a great and wise man once called one of his workmen to him saying, "go into the far country and build for me a house. the decisions of planning and of actual construction will be yours, but remember, i shall come to accept your work for a very special friend of mine."
and so the workman departed with a light heart for his field of labor. material of all kinds was plentiful here, but the workman had a mind of his own. "surely," he thought, "i know my business. i can use a bit of inferior materials here and cheat on my workmanship a little there, and still make the finished work look good. only i will know that what i have built has weaknesses."and so, at last the work was completed and the workman reported back to the great and wise man. "very good," he said. "now remember that i wanted you to use only the finest materials and craftsmanship in this house because i wanted to make present of it——my friend, you are the one i had you build it for. it is all yours."
how much like man. he comes to earth a stranger. he has his free agency. he may build as he likes. but on the morning of his resurrection he will receive what he has built for an eternal home and habitation.