REWARDS IN HEAVEN (PART 1)
There is a fallacy often spoken (even from pulpits) regarding the equality of Christians. One of those fallacies claim that we will all be the same in eternity.
This message is not relevant to those going to Hell, because all condemned people will have the same harsh ending.
However, those who will inherit Eternal life, will not have all equal statuses.
Those differences will be defined by rewards received from the Lord and those differences will also be determined by the life we would have lived here on Earth.
Between us, those entering eternal life, we will not equal statuses.
In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul wrote the following:
“ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Based on the above mentioned passage, we can see that there will be a time where the saved ones will face Christ may receive what is due for things done (good or bad) while we were living on Earth. “
Notice as well that Paul mentions that “each of us may receive.” The Bible never wrote that we will obviously receive anything. This means that the rewards will not be given automatically. Since the Bible uses the verb ‘may’, it implies that some will not even receive anything.
How will the reward process function?
In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, the Bible writes the following:
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."
The above mentioned passage discusses the work done on the foundation that Jesus had laid. Any work ,built on a foundation other than the one Jesus laid, won’t be considered for the test of rewards.
This is a strong reminder for every Christian: “your life must be a continuation of things that God initiated in your life.”
You cannot make choices and decisions that do not fall within the will of God.
As born again Christians, our choice studies, our career path, our ministry path, our marriages, our decisions,and many other things should be founded and built on the will of God .
We should accept that Jesus should initiate our journey. We build on what He initiates.
Do not be fooled: ‘you will not receive any rewards for anything built on any foundation not laid by Jesus.’
What is the test of Fire?
The test of fire is the method used to test the durability of what was built.
Every work done on the foundation laid by Jesus will be exposed in the light of day and refined through fire.
The rewards
Rewards will be given on two conditions:
It is interesting to see that in spite of building on the foundation laid by Jesus, a built structure can still be destroyed by the testing fire. It means that it is possible to build irrelevant actions on the foundation that Jesus laid. Let me give an example to illustrate this:
Example A: 'God tells brother ‘A’ to build a church named ‘XYZ’ in the city of Nairobi. Brother ‘A’ is willing to build the church but he decides to plant it in Paris.'
Example B: 'God tells brother ‘B’ to be a sportsman as a soccer player. Brother ‘B’ accepts to be a sportsman but he chooses to become a rugby player. And he becomes a successful rugby player.'
On the day of the rewards, both the works of Brother ‘A’ and brother ‘B’ will not pass the test of fire.
On the day of rewards, the foundation laid by Jesus will not burn to ashes. This means that when we build, we should also use the same method that Jesus used to build the foundation. We should not just do the will of God, but we should also do the will of God in God’s terms.
Will there be any poor in the Eternal life realm?
No, there won’t be any poor.
Simply because some people will not have rewards, it does not mean that they will be poor and subject to hardship. In the Eternal Life realm, there will be no disease, no hunger, no economic hardship. However, for some, a lack of rewards will be considered as a loss for eternity.
This should lead us to think carefully about how we want to live in the Eternal Life realm: ‘Do we want to live in eternal life with no rewards or with rewards?’
This message is not relevant to those going to Hell, because all condemned people will have the same harsh ending.
However, those who will inherit Eternal life, will not have all equal statuses.
Those differences will be defined by rewards received from the Lord and those differences will also be determined by the life we would have lived here on Earth.
Between us, those entering eternal life, we will not equal statuses.
In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul wrote the following:
“ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Based on the above mentioned passage, we can see that there will be a time where the saved ones will face Christ may receive what is due for things done (good or bad) while we were living on Earth. “
Notice as well that Paul mentions that “each of us may receive.” The Bible never wrote that we will obviously receive anything. This means that the rewards will not be given automatically. Since the Bible uses the verb ‘may’, it implies that some will not even receive anything.
How will the reward process function?
In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, the Bible writes the following:
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."
The above mentioned passage discusses the work done on the foundation that Jesus had laid. Any work ,built on a foundation other than the one Jesus laid, won’t be considered for the test of rewards.
This is a strong reminder for every Christian: “your life must be a continuation of things that God initiated in your life.”
You cannot make choices and decisions that do not fall within the will of God.
As born again Christians, our choice studies, our career path, our ministry path, our marriages, our decisions,and many other things should be founded and built on the will of God .
We should accept that Jesus should initiate our journey. We build on what He initiates.
Do not be fooled: ‘you will not receive any rewards for anything built on any foundation not laid by Jesus.’
What is the test of Fire?
The test of fire is the method used to test the durability of what was built.
Every work done on the foundation laid by Jesus will be exposed in the light of day and refined through fire.
The rewards
Rewards will be given on two conditions:
- When somebody would have built on the foundation laid by Jesus and,
- If what is built survives the test of fire.
It is interesting to see that in spite of building on the foundation laid by Jesus, a built structure can still be destroyed by the testing fire. It means that it is possible to build irrelevant actions on the foundation that Jesus laid. Let me give an example to illustrate this:
Example A: 'God tells brother ‘A’ to build a church named ‘XYZ’ in the city of Nairobi. Brother ‘A’ is willing to build the church but he decides to plant it in Paris.'
Example B: 'God tells brother ‘B’ to be a sportsman as a soccer player. Brother ‘B’ accepts to be a sportsman but he chooses to become a rugby player. And he becomes a successful rugby player.'
On the day of the rewards, both the works of Brother ‘A’ and brother ‘B’ will not pass the test of fire.
On the day of rewards, the foundation laid by Jesus will not burn to ashes. This means that when we build, we should also use the same method that Jesus used to build the foundation. We should not just do the will of God, but we should also do the will of God in God’s terms.
Will there be any poor in the Eternal life realm?
No, there won’t be any poor.
Simply because some people will not have rewards, it does not mean that they will be poor and subject to hardship. In the Eternal Life realm, there will be no disease, no hunger, no economic hardship. However, for some, a lack of rewards will be considered as a loss for eternity.
This should lead us to think carefully about how we want to live in the Eternal Life realm: ‘Do we want to live in eternal life with no rewards or with rewards?’