What Does Your Heavenly Resume Look Like?

I had a conversation with a friend a while ago, and we were discussing a pastor I listen to on YouTube. During one of his sermons, he asked a question that truly struck me and caused me to pause, reflect on my walk with Christ and the work I’m doing for His Kingdom.

He asked, "Imagine you’re standing in line on Judgment Day, and there’s someone standing either in front of you or behind you. He introduces himself as the Apostle Paul. Naturally, you're in awe—the Apostle Paul from the bible! He starts sharing all the amazing things he did and experienced for Christ, even the difficult parts, like losing his life. Hearing his story straight from him feels incredible, and then he turns to you and asks, ‘What about you? What’s your story? What have you done for the Kingdom?’"

I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks. How would I respond if someone like Paul asked me that question? What have I contributed to the Kingdom?

It made me think about how, on this side of heaven, we often focus on building resumes for our careers or personal goals. We start working toward our dreams early on, whether it’s a dream job, a college acceptance, or a scholarship. We take steps to align ourselves with the right people, join the right groups, and make decisions that look good on paper. We spend years perfecting our resumes because we want to stand out and be confident that we’ll land that job or opportunity.

But then I thought: what does my resume for heaven look like?

The beautiful thing about heaven is that it’s not about how perfect our earthly resume is. The Bible reminds us salvation is a gift. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (KJV) While our good works don’t earn us a place in heaven, they do reflect the life we’re called to live as believers.

It’s not about earning points but rather responding to the grace we’ve been given. John 14:6 reminds us that Jesus is the only way to heaven: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Our relationship with Jesus and His sacrifice is what brings us salvation, not our accomplishments or efforts.

That said, what are we doing while we’re here? How are we responding to His call to live out our faith?

I began to consider whether I’m putting the same amount of effort into my heavenly resume as I do my worldly one. Have I truly been an active citizen of God’s Kingdom? Have I fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless, or shared my resources with those in need? Isaiah 58:7 tells us to "Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless." Luke 12:33-34 adds, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail…"(NIV) These acts of service are part of the good works God prepared for us.

Philippians 2:3-5 reminds us to be humble: "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." This passage really hits home for me. Our works aren’t about receiving praise or validation but about humbly serving others as Christ did.

Some time ago I had the opportunity to minister to a young woman who became a dear friend. After a time of prayer, she asked if my friend and I could baptize her. My initial reaction was hesitation, I didn’t feel qualified. But then I remembered the story of Jesus being baptized by John. John, feeling unworthy, expressed that he didn’t feel capable of baptizing Jesus, yet Jesus reassured him. That moment gave us the courage to move forward. We prayed, walked her through repentance, and baptized her right there in the bathtub of my friend's apartment.

I’m not sharing this to boast or to check off a box on my "heavenly resume." I share it because it was a humbling moment, a reminder that the work we do for the Kingdom is often quiet, personal, and sometimes unexpected. It’s about obedience, not recognition.

When I reflect on Judgment Day, I hope that I’ll have more to share than just the things I did. I want to say that I shared God’s love, served others with a genuine heart, and followed His call faithfully. Not for praise, but because it’s the work He set out for me to do. I want my "heavenly resume" to reflect a life lived for Christ, even if it’s in small, unseen ways.

So I ask you today: What does your heavenly resume look like? Are we putting as much effort into God’s work as we are into building our earthly accomplishments? Are we living with eternity in mind?

Let’s strive to make sure that when we stand before the Lord, we’ve not only received His gift of salvation but also faithfully responded to His call. With Love and Prayers, Ketisha