Rewards in Heaven

-
      I read recently where a believer was complaining that life seems unfair.  He was complaining as the psalmist does in several of the Psalms that the unjust seem content and unbothered by their unjust acts while the righteous sometimes suffer.  He asked for an explanation of this.
    It is true that life is unfair at this time.  There are some people, famous athletes, dictators, the rich and famous who are not living according to God's commands and appear unbothered by it.  The Bible declares that they are getting their reward in full now (Matthew 6:16).  So when the cameras stop filming and the awards lose their tarnish then it is gone forever.  These people have not laid up any treasures in heaven.
    While the righteous are guaranteed that they will be persecuted on this earth because Jesus was persecuted.  Jesus, in fact, never promises an easy road as a believer.  Jesus told his followers that they would enter through a narrow gate that many are missing (Matthew 7:13-14).  This is in contradiction to what is taught even in many churches today.  But, if you want to save your life you shall lose it (Matthew 16:25).
    For am example of where this is talked about look in Psalm 73.  The psalmist says, "But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; My steps almost slipped.  For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked"  The psalmist goes on until Psalm 73:17 where it says, "Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end."  So, what end is the psalmist talking about.  Well, the Bible is clear that one day he will seperate the righteous from the wicked like sheep from goats see Matthew 25:31-46.  Then, God will provide the reward the righteous did not receive while on earth.  Then, God will make it right. 
     So, while it is not fair on earth at times, our treasures are not to be fully placed on this earth.  Like those who came before us our reward is in heaven.  Would you rather have temporary blessings for a few years or eternal blessing forever?  Where are you placing your treasures?

Popular posts from this blog

Some thoughts about the church in Corinth

-
Image
    Since March of this year, I have been doing a verse by verse study of the book of 1 Corinthians.  I have also listened to the class on 1 Corinthians taught on the bibleproject web site.  In that class, the teacher spends some time speaking about the controversy of chapter 11 and Paul's role of women in the church.  Though Dr. Lucy Peppiatt has some different views than mine it is a very interesting class that I would recommend.        I have found it encouraging that though the Corinth church had many problems Paul still had a lot of good things to say about them.  For example, in chapter 1 verse 4, he says that he always thanks God for them because they have been enriched in every way.  It says that they do not lack in any spiritual gift.  He never questions their salvation, though he does describe them in chapter 3 as "infants in Christ".  Paul may have written another letter to Corinth which remains lost that was possibly more direct and harsh.  But, he never gives
Read more

Introduction and chapter 1 of 1 John notes

-
  Study of 1 John started November 5, 2023 1 John Introduction The author- John was possibly born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) and was a son of Zebedee and Salome.  It appears his mother helped with the financial support of Christ (Mark 15:40,41).  He and his brother James were called “sons of thunder” Mk 3:17.  John lived in Ephesus, the capital of the province of Asia Minor, the Roman proconsul resided there.  John may have been battling against Gnosticism during his later years.  It said that deity cannot unite itself with anything physical such as a body.  It understood that knowledge is superior to virtue.  John battled against this by saying that Christ came in the flesh.  It is possible that 1 John may have been written around 90 A.D.   Wycliffe divides the book up into these sections Fellowship’s conditions 1:5-10 Fellowship’s conduct 2:1-29 Fellowship’s characteristics 3:1-24 Fellowship’s cautions 4:1-21 Fellowship’s cause 5:1-21 1 John 1 John begins by saying that which was from
Read more

The wise men Matthew 2

-
    Matthew chapter 2 starts like this 2  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold,  [ a ] wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  2  saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”   3  When Herod the king heard  this,  he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.   5  So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6  ‘But   you, Bethlehem,   in   the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’  ” I've always thought that there were three wise men who came to find Jesus, but the scripture doesn't actually ever say that there was 3 men.  It says that there were wise men who gave Jesus three gifts
Read more