The following is an excerpt from my book The Way of the Rogue Christian; Living a Life that Counts for Eternity. As you will see, those who pour their lives out in this world can look forward to blessings in the next.
All This, and Rewards Too?
“I was never without some religious principles. I never doubted, for instance, the existence of the Deity; that He made the world and governed it by his providence; that the most acceptable service of God was the doing good to man, that our souls are immortal, and that all crime will be punished and virtue rewarded either here or hereafter.”
—Benjamin Franklin
“There hath not one tear dropped from thy tender eye against thy lusts, the love of this world, or for more communion with Jesus Christ, but as it is now in the bottle of God; so then it shall bring forth such plenty of reward, that it shall return upon thee with abundance of increase.”
—John Bunyan
“The promise to the Church is a promise of persecution, if faithful in this world, but a promise of a great inheritance and reward hereafter. In the meantime, she is to be a pilgrim body, passing through this scene, but abiding above.”
—J. I. Scofield
The Christian life staggers me at times. How do you make sense of this all-encompassing, holy, powerful Being who creates man in His own image, watches as His creation falls into sin and evil, and then allows Himself to be tortured and killed by them so He can provide a way for men and women to be with Him for eternity? Most of us would reboot the human race—or scuttle it all together—rather than pay that price.
Then God showers those of us who love Him with blessings we can barely grasp. He gives the millions who love Him His Holy Spirit and speaks, empowers, and encourages each one independently. Every sin is forgiven. There is the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—that we can’t experience without Him. Who can really grasp the full extent of the outpouring of His grace?
On top of all that (and I barely touched on the blessings He’s bestowed us with), He offers those who live their lives in a way that counts for eternity rewards? Why wouldn’t we want to invest our lives in the things that bless Him?
Let’s take a look at some of those rewards and the actions that trigger them.
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
—Matthew 5:11–12
We can look forward to a great reward in eternity when we endure persecution. These attacks are proof that we are His sons and daughters; Jesus promised that true believers will suffer (2 Tim. 3:12) during their time on earth. If you’re getting hit with spiritual warfare or other forms of persecution, that is a good sign that you’re a threat to the enemy and making your life count for eternity (unless you’re committing sin and are opening yourself up to it). It’s the Christian who breezes through life who should wonder about the path they’re on.
“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
—Matthew 6:2–4
Investing your money and time to help others triggers a reward. The needy include those who are lonely, broken, in bondage to sin, or destitute. One blessing of the Christian life is that we experience joy as we help others.
“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
—Matthew 6:5–6 NASB
Solitary prayer triggers a reward from the King of the universe. Isn’t that crazy? We spend time alone with Him, and He rewards us in spite of our faults. He loves being with us!
“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
—Matthew 10:41–42
Giving a fellow believer a cup of cold water triggers a reward. That’s it? It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that God expects us to often hit major-league grand slam home runs out of the park and lead hundreds to Christ or work so hard that we burn out for God. But just giving a brother or sister a kind word can make a big difference. Grow where God plants you, and use the gifts He’s given you.
“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
—Luke 6:34–36
We’re cutting into the core of the heart here. It’s easy to love a friend—but an enemy? That’s usually not our first response, yet as we walk with God, He gives us the grace to love those who hurt us. Loving our enemies puts us in line for great rewards. That’s amazing! Jesus praying for the Pharisees while they insulted Him as He died on the cross comes to mind. It’s possible we may not be more Christ-like than when we love those who hate us or persecute us.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
—Colossians 3:23–24
We’re encouraged to go all out using the gifts God gives us, whether at work, at home, or anywhere else. I have found that He gives us a burning—a hunger—to use the gifts He’s given us. As we step into the battles and role He has for us, we experience the blessings that come from the fruit. Those who are focused on living a life of impact reap even more blessings in eternity.
“For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”
—Hebrews 10:34–36
The writer of Hebrews commends his readers for their compassion for the hurting and how they put little value on their material goods or prosperity. Staying confident in God and His promises, no matter what happens, is another one of those triggers for a great reward. It requires endurance and setting our minds on the eternal.
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
—Hebrews 11:6 NASB
We’re back to the Rogue’s Creed. A life of seeking God builds our faith muscles and puts us in line for rewards.
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
—1 Corinthians 3:10–15
The gold, silver, and precious stones we want to build on as the foundation of our relationship with the Lord during our vapor-like existence include suffering patiently, serving others, having a consistent prayer life, investing our time and finances in what has eternal value and significance, loving our enemies, going all out in living a life that counts for eternity, showing compassion for hurting people, holding material blessings loosely, believing that God rewards those who seek Him, and passionately seeking God as a way of life.
Everything else goes up in flames.
See more about Living a Life that Counts for Eternity at www.theroguechristian.com.
