Rewards In Heaven!
"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
• Your behaviour unlocks the door to reward and determines how you will spend eternity.
• Your life now is directly impacting everything that will happen to you after you die.
• Our eternal destination is a consequence of what we believe on earth.
• Our eternal compensation is the consequence of how we behave on earth.
There are two keys that determine everything about your eternity. The first is your belief or faith. This key unlocks the door to eternal life and determines where you will spend eternity. The second key is directly related to your behaviour. It unlocks the door to reward and determines how you will spend eternity.
We know from James and Peter that faith is the foundation on which we grow spiritually and we are to add action and virtues to this great foundation of faith. God wants these fruits developed because then we can go on and reap the benefits of the heavenly rewards. Life is a temporary assignment and the Bible is clear about the six main events of our lives: life, death, destination, resurrection, repayment and eternity.
Paul reminded the Corinthian believers, “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-10)
How much is at stake in what lies ahead for you. I repeat,your life now is directly impacting everything that will happen to you after you die. Our eternal destination is a consequence of what we believe on earth. Our eternal compensation is the consequence of how we behave on earth. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6 that “God is a Rewarder”.
Jesus spoke on the subject of reward:
• He will reward each according to his works (Matthew 16:27)
• You will have treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21)
• You will be blessed…for you shall be repaid at the resurrection (Luke 14:14)
• “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. (Luke 6:22-23; James 1:12)
In those last eight words, Jesus reveals why you and I can rejoice, even in the worst circumstances. Why? Because there is a direct connection between something you do for him on earth and something ‘great’ he will do for you in heaven.
Jesus said to his disciples…”For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” Have a look at the example of behaviour that God rewards after death.
1. God will reward you for seeking Him through spiritual acts such as fasting and praying (Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 11:6)
2. God will reward you for submitting to your employer as a faithful steward (Matthew 24:45-47; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:22-24)
3. God will reward you for self-denial in His service (Matthew 16:24-27)
4. God will reward you for serving those in need in His name (Mark 9:41)
5. God will reward you for suffering for His name and reputation (Luke 6:22-23; James 1:12)
6. God will reward you for sacrifices you make for Him (Luke 6:35) In fact, Jesus said that every person who sacrifices to follow Him will be rewarded a hundredfold (Matthew 19:29)
7. God will reward you for sharing of your time, talent and treasure to further His kingdom. (Matthew 6:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:18-19)
Today, make a decision to focus on making every effort to develop the behaviour that yields eternal rewards.
Prayer Points:
• Heavenly Father, thank You for the revelation of Your Word.
• Your Word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet.
• Thank You for showing me that there is a reason why I need to add virtue and character to my foundation of faith.
• Help me to cultivate behaviour that reaps eternal rewards and not just think of the here and now.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen
