Eternal Rewards and the God of the Bible
By Robin Calamaio
A clarion call throughout the Bible - is the call for
individuals to serve God (See Ex 23:25, Jn 12:26, Col 3:24,
etc.). He has decided to employ people in the expansion of His
Kingdom. He pays for this service with ... eternal rewards.
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me" (Rev
22:12). While there are some clues as to the nature of these
rewards, this cannot be meaningfully related to us in our
present circumstance. We are assured they are incorruptible and
eternal ... but, they also surpass anyone's comprehension. "Do
not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth ... but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal" (Mt
6:19,20) and "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has
conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1Cor
2:9). It is by faith one takes God up on this offer. His records
are impeccable. He knows exactly who to credit with what.
For two summers during college, I sold books door-to-door. The
goal was to work as many hours as possible, live on as little as
possible, and send all monies back to headquarters. Then at
summer's end - pick up one big paycheck. The procurement of
eternal rewards is somewhat similar. We are looking to one big
Payday. "Well done, good slave. Because you have been faithful
in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities" (Lk
19:17).
The case for dismissing "rights" to eternal rewards for anybody
is quite strong. For starters, "Salvation is from the Lord"
(Jonah 2:9). While Jonah was probably referring to deliverance
from the belly of the great fish, those with even a cursory
Bible understanding know that "to God the Lord belong escapes
from death" (Ps 68:20). Our most urgent need is deliverance from
the deaths of sin - all three of them; spiritual, physical and
eternal. But, on our own initiative "there is none who seeks for
God" (Ro 3:11). Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the
Father who sent Me draws him" (Jn 6:44). The Bible is absolute
on this issue. Scores of verses support this. If you think you
are going to stand before God and say, "Yeah, I woke up one day
and knew I needed You in my life. I started reading the Bible
and I figured out who Jesus was and what that meant. Then I
decided to accept Him, and I ... I ... I ...." (This next
statement is blunt, but know I am speaking ... to myself first).
If you think you engineered your faith and understanding of the
things of God - you have deceived yourself. So, such a one has
"rights" to eternal rewards?
But, even as Christians, we cannot claim total credit for our
service. We do become "God's fellow-workers" with each receiving
"his own reward according to his own labor" (1Cor 3:8,9). But,
deep behind the scenes of our willing service, we find these
assertions: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk
in them" (Eph 2:10) and "it is God who is at work in you, both
to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). So, God
creates the works and motivates us to do them ... and even
grants spiritual abilities (gifts or aptitudes - 1Cor 12:4-31)
... and then grants eternal rewards for cooperating?
Notice He says we "should" walk in these good works. But, in an
exercise of free will, we can stupidly choose otherwise. John
told his audience, "Watch yourselves, ... (so) that you might
receive a full reward" (2Jn 8).
Everyone who gets even one eternal reward will acknowledge it is
undeserved. It is He "who gives life to the dead and calls into
being that which does not exist" (Ro 4:17). He not only makes us
"alive together with Him" (Col 2:13), but He then empowers our
efforts for Him ... so actual spiritual progress occurs. It is
"God who causes the growth" (1Cor 3:7).
So, are there "conditions" one must meet to be used by God - and
thus receive eternal rewards? Well, John would not have exhorted
his audience, "watch yourselves ... (so) that you might receive
a full reward" if these rewards were automatic. Jesus would not
have warned of the wicked slave who "hid" his talent ... unless
it is possible we could do the same (Mt 25:14-30). In
Revelation, He admonished the churches to "repent ... be
faithful ... overcome ... hold fast" and rewards would follow
(Rev 2:5,10,17,25). Paul warned Christians to build properly on
the foundation, as fire "will test the quality of each man's
work" - some efforts ending in eternal reward and others burning
up (1Cor 3:10,13-15). So, here are a few points.
To be used by God is a moment by moment, event by event,
transaction. God is not obligated to use everything a Christian
does. An individual must actively maintain the relationship with
God - in actions and reactions. His will must be sought and one
must be deemed by Him as ready to be used. There is nothing
automatic about this, and the privilege is never owed. It is an
undeserved honor to ever be used by God - even once in this
life. One's educational level, titles, or publically ordained
positions have no effect on the God of the Bible in this matter.
He uses individuals based upon current standing with Him - and
this is always a matter of the heart. For example, while there
are many sins that move a person into an "inactive" status with
Him, one that God hates ... is pride. "If anyone thinks he is
something, being nothing, he deceives himself" (Gal 6:3). Pride
can often hide in the background until some circumstance brings
it forward. Just ask Job about this. Then, one must spend time
repenting and getting the heart right ... so God can then use
that person. In this matter, "God shows no partiality." (Paul
said this of the other apostles "who were of high reputation"!
Rest assured, when Peter and Barnabas, were operating in their
pride, that chapter of their Christian lives only produced fuel
for the fire [Gal 2:6-9]). Do you think God is somehow obligated
to eternally reward error and impure motives, known or unknown
by the perpetrator, and expand His Kingdom with that?
But, what if there is a group of Christians - say, a local
church - representing God? Is He obligated to use, and reward,
their efforts? Or, are its activities weighed moment by moment,
event by event ... as is done with the individual?
Let's look at it this way. Have you ever heard this one? "How
will the church's bills be paid if you don't give?" Well, there
are two presumptions behind this question/statement. First, the
activities of that church are being used by God, and second,
people in the pews are responsible for that church's bills. But,
... is God using that place - now? Even if He has in the past,
that doesn't mean He is now ... and the present is all that
matters. This fundamental question - and test - never goes away.
And, what about those bills? Well, we already know of at least
one place God had inhabited - and then abandoned. Somewhere
around 35 AD, He left the Most Holy Place at the Temple in
Jerusalem ... never to return. Of course, people still came to
the Temple, and it was populated with priests, and councils, and
all kinds of religious ceremonies for another 35 years. During
that time ... all the bills for that "ministry" kept rolling in.
Do you think the "contributions" by those religious participants
will end with eternal rewards from God?
If individuals, or groups, want investment into their
ministry(s), they should look primarily to God Himself to
impress on potential donors the validity of their cause. God is
quite capable of doing that - and has no need of coercion or
manipulation. He simply opens eyes ... to the opportunity of
gaining eternal rewards by investing.
In my own personal crucible, I have come to some determinations.
One is this: "Lord, I would rather be used by You one time in my
remaining days, than to have a lifetime of plastic 'achievement'
- pursuing what I think, or others think, should be done." This
takes effort to seek God on such a level ... but, what is the
alternative? Fuel for fire?
This Article's an excerpt from Robin's definitive work on
the Abortion Argument
http://www.freelygive-n.com/Abortion_Argument.html
Robin has an M-Div (Emmanuel School of Rel '92.)
