The Bible says that the Great Commission is to go and preach the gospel to all the world (Mark 16:15). But did you know that Jesus also rewards the faithful Christian?
II Corinthians 5:10 says, "For we (Christians) must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done (produced) while in the body, whether good or bad." The Bible says that salvation is a free gift. Ephesians 2:8,9 says one is saved by GRACE through FAITH --- not by WORKS. But rewards are earned by faithfulness out of a LOVE motive for Christ and others.
In Matthew 5:19 Jesus said in HEAVEN that some will be called GREAT and some will be called LEAST. Some will have great rewards while others will have few or even no rewards --- for eternity in heaven.
Daniel 12:3 says, "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the STARS forever and ever." Christians will shine in the kingdom with various intensities based on their degree of love for God and on their faithfulness.
Let's now look at I Corinthians 15:41 & 42 in the NASB:
"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon,
and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.
So ALSO is the resurrection of the dead."
Did you see that? This passage illustrates that the future resurrected human bodies of believers will differ substantially from our present earthly human bodies. In addition, Daniel reveals that those who are wise and turn many others to the way of righteousness, will shine like the brightness of the stars forever and ever. Christians that abide in the Lord and are faithful to the Lord's command to be part of the Great Commission will receive true eternal riches that will endure for all eternity.That's why Jesus commanded us to lay up for OURSELVES treasures in heaven....see Matthew 6:20.
So the closer one is to Him, the greater the intensity that His glory will shine through that person, for all eternity. It will not be the Christian's glory, for all glory always belongs to God. In Isaiah 42:8 God says, "I will not give My glory to another." It is important to see that it will be Jesus' glory that will shine through those Christians that were close to Him in love and obedience. Or, saying it differently, those Christians close to Christ in heaven will be given the privilege of carrying Jesus' glory on "their shoulders"..forever and ever.
Jesus is our exceedingly great reward. The real treasure in heaven is Jesus.
In I Corinthians 9:24 Paul told us to "run in such a way as to receive the prize". In Philippians 3:14 he also said, "I press on toward the GOAL to win the prize...." So what is the prize? I think Revelation 3:21 gives us the answer. In this verse Jesus says, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne...." (Note: It doesn't say near His throne, but on it). Paul's goal was to have a close, intimate, love relationship with Jesus for all eternity; To be right next to Jesus gazing into His eyes; To bask and bathe himself in Jesus' presence and in His overflowing glory.
The GOAL--------------------> is to be CLOSE to Jesus in heaven forever.
The MEANS (the way)-------> is to develop and attain CLOSENESS with Jesus NOW.
Being close to Jesus NOW is referred to in the
Bible as having one's FIRST LOVE. It is
Matthew 22:37 which describes the first love.
It reads like this:
"LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind."
The indicator of how close to Jesus you will be
in heaven --- is, how close you are to Him NOW.
The place that you give the Lord here, is the place He will give you there.
And the place Paul gave Jesus is found in Philippians 1:21 where Paul said, "For me to live is CHRIST."
God only reveals His presence and power to those who lovingly OBEY Him.
So lay up for yourself all the TREASURE you can now, before you die... for once you die, death robs you of your OPPORTUNITY to lay up any more treasure in heaven (see I Corinthians 15:26). Once you enter heaven --- for all eternity you will not be able to lay up so much as one "spiritual penny" ever again.
If you lay up much heavenly treasure you'll be CLOSE to Jesus and He'll radiate His brilliance and glory through you, forever.
But now it's up to you.
Would you like to be close to Christ for all eternity?
If you do you'll want to weigh these things carefully and begin to PREPARE for eternity. Because if you are not close to Him here, you will not be close to Him there!
So start now to draw close to Jesus in love and obedience to the Bible and great will be your reward --- intimacy with KING JESUS.
