Eternal Rewards
Session 10: Mysterious Rewards in the Age to Come
I.Dream a Little:
- His Unfathomable Greatness:
Foundational to our faith is the unsurpassed greatness of our God; if you can imagine it then He can do better. As we apply this idea to eternity we realize that our wildest imaginations don’t even begin to touch the fringes of what He is capable of.
“Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness (Ps. 150:2).”
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Is. 55:9).”
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20 NJKV).”
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Php. 3:8).”
- Revelation of Holy Things:
Real revelation doesn’t come from a corporate teaching time (though it is our hope that it jump starts desire) it comes when you take the Word of God and meditate on it. I encourage you to take a teaching like this one and take some time to pour over the verses, ask the Lord for more. Press in and see what more He would say to you about these ideas.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Je. 29:13).”
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings (Pr. 25:2).”
“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant…He will instruct him in the way chosen for him…The LORD confides in those who fear him (Ps. 9-14).”
- Life in the Coming Age:
The prophets (and Revelation) give us glimpses into the next age, but even less into the ages that follow. That information, while helpful in casting a vision for us, is still only the faintest picture of what is coming. In fact we do not yet understand what good things are in store for us.
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known (1Jn. 3:2).”
“However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him (1Co. 2:9).”
II.Broad and Glorious Promises:
It is clear that there are many blessings and rewards that we don’t yet have the capacity yet to even think up let alone get clarity on. The scriptures often hint at some of these blessings, leaving us bewildered, some may be knowable while the understanding of others is reserved purely for the next age. In this section we will look at several of these grandiose though ambiguous promises.
- The Glory to be Revealed in Us:
Paul said that we have in store for us something of such great value that to live in extreme difficulty all our life would still not compare to that which awaits us. He spoke specifically about His glory which would be revealed in us. Was this referencing what we would experience physically, or emotionally, or spiritually, or all of these, or so much more besides? All he said was the glory that will be revealed in us.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Ro. 8:18).”
- To Share in His Glory:
We will share in Christ’s glory, in various ways, to varying degrees, but the same glory that is Christ’s will become ours as well. What does that mean?
“if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory(Ro. 8:17).”
“But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him (1Jn. 3:2)”
- The Prophets Reward:
The twenty four elders spoke of the prophet’s reward while John was in the Throne Room of Heaven (Re. 11:18) and Jesus made reference to it in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5:12). Below however we see where this same reward is accessible to anyone who shows kindness to and receives a prophet (reference is likely to receiving a person into ones home).
“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward (Mt. 10:40-41).”
- The Righteous Man’s Reward:
The idea of being rewarded due to our righteousness is a clear New and Old Testament doctrine (1Sa. 26:23; 2Sa. 22:21; Ps. 18:20; Pr. 11:18; Mt. 6:1). However the idea that we could receive that same reward for kindnesses shown to a righteous man is perhaps new to us (again, the reference is likely to receiving a person into ones home).
“and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward (Mt. 10:41).”
III.Extravagant Rate of Exchange:
We know that the Lord promises to reward us. But what is so unthinkable is the rate in which we are awarded. It is unbelievably stacked in our favor. As we will see, His system of assessing our efforts is extremely disproportionate; we give our very little and He assesses it as somehow worthy of greatness in return.
- According to What We have Done:
God doesn’t divvy out the rewards arbitrarily; in fact, once processed through His divine filter, He rewards each person in direct accordance to what they have done.
“Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done (Ps. 62:12).”
“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 (Mt. 16:27).”
- Great Reward in Heaven:
“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Mt. 5:12).”
- Receive 100 Times What Was Given:
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospelwill fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life (Mk. 10:29-20).”
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life (Mt. 19:29).”
- That Which is Called Great Gain:
The obedient, the godly and those who have lost all things for Christ are promised that which is simply called “great gain” or “great reward.” The idea being that one is infinitely better off this way than had they been disobedient, ungodly and kept everything for themselves. Great gain isn’t furthered qualified however; it is called outstanding without qualification.
“By them is your servant warned; in keeping (the Lord’s commands) there is great reward (Ps. 19:11).”
“But godliness with contentment is great gain (1Ti. 6:6).”
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christand be found in him (Php. 3:7-9)”
- Godliness’ Double Reward:
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1Ti. 4:8).”
IV.Mysterious Physical Rewards:
- Hidden Manna:
What does it mean to be given hidden manna? Manna was the daily provision and regular food for the Israelites for 40 years in the dessert so we are to understand that manna equals food. The word secret seems to express that no one (or few) will know that an individual has this particular food. We know that we will eat in the age to come; so is this like secret snack time?
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna(Re. 2:17)…”
- White Stone with a New Name:
We know that Jesus will have a name written on Him that only He knows (Re. 19:12). It is interesting that one of the eternal rewards promised to those who overcome is likewise a white stone with a name written on it that only the individual knows.
“I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it (Re. 2:17).”
- Faithful are put in Charge of all His Possessions:
Jesus is looking for the faithful. Those He assesses as such He will put in charge of “all” His possessions. So in the Millennial Kingdom there will still be stewardship and it will be considered a great honor to be of the ranks of those who oversee Jesus’ inheritance; the Holy City (Re. 21:10), the riches of the nations (Re. 21:26; Is. 60:11), etc.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions (Mt. 24:45-47).”
V.Mysterious Promises:
- Be Made a Pillar in the Temple of the New Jerusalem:
When Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem he put two main pillars into place (1Ki. 7:21) that were to hold up the grand porch of the structure. He named these Jakin (which means “He establishes”) and Boaz (which means “in Him is strength”), both names indicating a partnership between those pillars and the God who granted their placement. They would henceforth hold up God’s house with the grace that He imparted to them. In the next age there are those who will be made into the pillars of God’s 1400-mile Temple, as the whole city is called the Temple (Re. 21:22).
“Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it (Re. 3:12)...”
- The Morning Star:
In the days before Lucifer fell he held this same title (Is. 14:12) as the angel of light and worship. We now know Jesus to be called the bright Morning Star who rises in our hearts (Re. 22:16; 2Pe. 1:19). The overcomers promised to be given the morning star, presumably this speaks of some special dimension of nearness to Jesus as well as to the ministry of worship.
“I will also give him the morning star (Re. 2:28).”
- Eternal Pleasures at God’s Right Hand:
There are enjoyable things for us in God’s presence, forever. The NJKV uses the term“pleasures forevermore” to describe what is available to us at God’s right hand. What does this mean; perhaps a better question is what doesn’t this mean?
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Ps. 16:11).”
- To See Clearly:
Perhaps we have heard the following verses quoted before. But if we stop for a moment and think it through, what will it mean to see? to see face to face? to see Him as He is? These are some glorious realities that are our future for sure. Our portion is to see Him clearly forever.
“I counsel you to buy from me…salve to put on your eyes, so you can see (Re. 3:18).”
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears…Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1Co. 13:9-12).”
“But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure (1Jn. 3:2-3).”
VI.Internal Eternal Blessings:
- To be Comforted:
We will know comfort at such a level of depth as we have never known before. The below verse promises the overflow of eternal comforts to those position themselves to mourn in this life (Jo. 2:12). Mourning is the connecting of our heart to the things that grieve God’s; it is an intentional reaching for God, for His emotions and to be heartbroken over what breaks His heart. The degree of comfort that we will know in the age to come will be great regardless, but the measures may vary.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Mt. 5:4).”
- To be Filled:
The Holy Spirit is eternal and so is His ministry and work. When the redeemed reach paradise we will all be filled with the Holy Spirit in a new an glorious manner such as only Heaven could provide. That degree will likely also differ from saint to saint based off our application of the following verse and larger Biblical principle.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Mt. 5:6).”
- To Be Shown Mercy:
Those who show mercy; that is love when it isn’t merited at all, will receive rewards allotted to the merciful. These rewards are real and tangible, they are rewards that can only be received through showing mercy. And just what is the beautiful reward? That we will be shown eternal mercies if we ourselves show mercy now. The application is this; you will be granted eternal blessings that you would have otherwise lost because of sins committed, but those rewards would be restored to you because of your completely unrelated acts of mercy (acts of unwarranted love, of unusual kindness).
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Mt. 5:7).”
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1Pe. 4:8).”
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