The point that Jesus makes when He says: So that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations. What exactly does the phrase “when it fails” mean? It means that there will come a time when everything, and that includes our money, will fail. There will come a time when we have to let everything go. Inevitably that time will come. The moment of death will arrive, that moment that no one can put off, not even that person who controls world affairs.

Let this be perfectly clear. You can take nothing with you. Possibly the door of a palace, and perhaps the door of a prime minister, can be opened with a golden key. But the door of heaven will not open because of anything we might offer, because of any money we might have. The rich man from the well-known Lazarus parable was shut out. And poor Lazarus entered.

Jesus refers to heaven in this parable of the Unjust Steward as well. He compares heaven to a large city – a place of eternal habitations. How do people come to dwell in this city? How can they be assured that they will be welcomed with open arms in the Father's house where there are many mansions? Jesus tells us: make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.

“So that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.” You'll have to admit that this phrase surprises you. “How is this possible?” you say. Isn't this a misunderstanding? Doesn't it smack of the Roman Catholic heresy of good works? Doesn't it have the taste of Modernism? We know it's not possible to enter heaven because of good works. We know that works of charity will not make someone acceptable in God's sight. And besides that, what will we do with the text “For by grace you have been saved through faith”? – and that's not to speak of the mercy, pardon and forgiveness of God. Those are good questions. The doctrine of righteousness by grace through faith, so that no one can boast, is wonderful. We can never emphasize it enough. Jesus alone accomplished our salvation. We did nothing to accomplish our salvation.

But now I have to refer back to our text. Notice that the parable we are speaking of is in the context of several other parables. In Luke 15 we read the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son. In these parables, God's mercy is emphasized again and again. The Good News that God seeks the lost is presented. How was the Prodigal able to come home? Through his works? By virtue of money? No, only through the mercy of his Father was he able to enter his home. That is a first and foremost conclusion and for this we thank God.

But someone could possibly think, referring to the Prodigal Son, “The way I live my life is not all that important. The door to heaven is always ajar. I can do what I like with the material goods and talents which have been entrusted to me and still enter heaven.”

The parable of the unjust steward guards against this misunderstanding. Jesus offers a resounding “No” to this misapplication of the parable of the Prodigal Son. We are managers of our earthly possessions, but we ought to manage those possessions according to God's ordinances, according to His will.

It is definitely not true that because of the way we manage our possessions we will earn a place in heaven. The only way we will arrive there, one Prodigal after another, is through the mercy of God. Even our best works contain much sin.

Yet it is a fact that our love for the Savior will manifest itself through works of charity. If it does not manifest itself through these works of charity, we have a dead faith; an imagined faith. If we truly love God, we will be compelled to love and share with others. 1 John 4:11 says it well: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” The important issue, therefore, is the issue of the legitimacy, the genuineness, the sincerity, of our faith.

It's easy to talk about your faith. We can have wonderful discussions about our faith. But without acting on this faith, words mean nothing. Remember what James said: What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?

Faith manifests itself through love – and promises eternal profit. Jesus opens a beautiful panorama into eternity in this parable. He speaks of those amazing pure habitations, the dwelling places of peace. There comes a weary pilgrim. He's at the end of his journey. He recognizes that he is a sinner. He calls on God's grace and mercy. Behind him lies a road paved with works, misshapen works damaged through innumerable sins.

But he need not despair. Lo and behold, the doors open and people stream out – people whom the pilgrim has almost forgotten he knew. They call out to him. They invite him to enter. Perhaps in the world these people were neglected folks –poor and needy. But in heaven they have received places of honor, a wonderful home. And they call out. “Welcome. You did not forget us on earth. And we have not forgotten you in heaven.” They remember the love of their earthly brother. And he is welcomed in heaven as a king is welcomed home in his native land.

This is just a small perspective – a small perspective of the extraordinarily beautiful habitations we stand to inherit. Of course, we don't know the half of it. And it's hard to imagine what the actual amazing reality will be. But the picture should not leave us; and the picture should touch our innermost being. So that we will say “If the future is like this, then we cannot but desire to go there. Then we cannot but pray to our Lord Jesus for strength to glorify Him.”

Eternal profit! What motivates you to live? What do you expect from the future? Search your hearts! Test your lives! I pray that you all have joyful hope, ardent love and enthusiasm, for the Jerusalem that lies above.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this: “Blessed are those who die in the Lord henceforth.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:13