I remember 30 years ago when the laymen begin to speak of consequence in Heaven. It was controversial at that time and still is. We want to believe that there is no consequence to way we invest our life. This is poor thinking and anti-scriptural.
I heard a sermon this week where the pastor noted that there are two destinies for our souls. One is Heaven and the other Hell. Hell is condemnation and Heaven is commendation.
Our commendation is shown in the rewards we receive in Heaven after the Judgement seat of believers. Our rewards will be evaluated on what we did with what we had and why we did it.
If I could Have any of my brothers who have gone on to Heaven coach me on my remaining years, I wonder what they would say. If Heaven is what the bible says, I think they would say to, “double your effort to serve God with your giftedness, there is consequence”.
This teaching in the bible is often looked down upon because it breeds work for profit motive. Well to those who think this way, I say that is what Jesus taught, the apostles taught, Jesus looked forward to in His own case and reflects the thinking of God who is very reward oriented.
To think we will follow Jesus out of an altruistic motive for all the years of life is very poor thinking and is folly. I encourage you put down your cultural thinking and start down the journey of understanding rewards in your own life.
Gayle
References:
The Profit Motive, MIM at pikespeakcbmc.com
Reward, God’s Criteria, MIM at pikespeakcbmc.com
David Jeremiah work on Heaven
Jeffery’s of First Baptist, Dallas work on rewards.
Here’s to a good journey of learning and a good focused life..
Our God is a God that wired us to be motivated by gain/reward.
The word reward in Rev 22 and other verses in the NT means:
pay for service, good or bad OR
pay (-ment be made), perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward
In the English dictionary, it means:
to recompense or requite for service, merit, achievement, etc.
Both Jesus and his apostles were looking forward to rewards in Heaven and we should do likewise.
I think we cannot finish our walk serving Christ unless we are motivated by gain. Our emotion will not carry us through the trials and temptations of life.
Rewards:
Rewards for a sinful life lived away from God.
Due to our decisions to live away from God and live a debauched life, our reward is Hell.
Christ died on the cross to nullify this sentence and as a gift we can go to Heaven.
We earn Hell, Heaven is a gift.
Rewards for the here and now.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, there is no man that has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospel’s sake,
Mar 10:30 but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life.
This is a promise by Jesus. God is involved in your life here on the earth. God is in control and has your best interest at heart. You do it His way and He blesses you.
5 Crowns for believers:
- CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 2 Timothy 4:8
Given to all those who eagerly looked forward to and loved His appearing. - INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Given to those who disciplined their bodies and exercised self control. - CROWN OF LIFE James 1:12, Revelation 2:10
Given to those who loved God and endured through tests and temptations and were faithful until death. Includes martyrs. - CROWN OF GLORY 1 Peter 5:2
Given to Godly leaders who served believers willingly and eagerly, not for personal gain; leading by example. - CROWN OF REJOICING 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Daniel 12:3
Given to those who were involved in influencing others to righteousness and relationship with God
I think these are the crowns we will cast down at the feet of Jesus. My opinion only.
Rev_4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying….
Application: At this stage in your life, do you qualify for any of the Crowns. And “so” your response is?
Rewards on our life.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Cor Paul describes the reward for things “done in the body” as gold, silver, precious stones. Or
Luke 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant:
because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Rev_22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.
Let me note only 3 rewards at this time:
1. Rev_2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
2. Rev_2:26 And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations.
3. Luk 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
I believe we keep these rewards for eternity.
Our contemporaries:
The Christian’s body thinking that I hear goes something like this:
The question they ask is “in the grind of life, why does one need to keep trying to walk with Jesus and His commands and accepting Jesus thinking as the truth”.
The thinking is, I am going to Heaven and it looks like there is no downside to indulgences on my part. Christ work has saved me and forgiven my sins and He isn’t going to take it back. Christ loves me no matter what. The alternative is just return to world’s life for the here and now. Why not just live my life in harmony with the people around me? Why be an odd ball and think like those bunch of hypocrites of believers? There is an argument that goes, abortion sometime is required, and fornication is fun, why not eat drink and be merry for tomorrow I die and on-and-on.
My motivation in this life’s journey is love.
Application on rewards:
- When is the last time you looked upon your walk and contemplated your gain in eternity in a careful study?
- 1Timorthy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain:
- Luke 9:23-26 are doable commands/instructions if we see our life as eternal and with consequence and not a mere 70-80 years.
- The person who lives a life of serving God without a thought of the future and without being motivate by rewards, is mindless. There is a payout in Heaven and we should look forward to that and be motivated today and tomorrow by that. That is God’s plan.
- It is my impression that God gave us payout to keep us motivated as the world wears away at me.
