I recently read what I thought was a newer book from one of my favorite authors, Randy Alcorn. The title is “The Law of Rewards – Giving What You Can’t Keep to Gain What You Can’t Lose.” But as I looked at the book details later, I saw that it was published in 2003. Boy, I wish I had read it 21 years ago! Better late than never. Maybe God saved it for 2024 so I could write a blog post about it!
I have understood in a very general sense that there is some link between what our life on earth looks like, and the rewards ahead of us in Heaven. At a minimum, I think most of us are familiar with this text out of Matthew 6:19-21:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I know there are numerous texts about receiving various kinds of crowns when this life is over. There’s also a text about laying crowns at Jesus’ feet in Heaven. Honestly, I never took the effort to study these concepts more deeply, even though I now see how critically important they are.
So, today’s blog will be a bit deeper theologically than some of my others. But I pray it’s as eye-opening for you as it was for me, so hang in there!
Here are just a few highlights of what I learned from this powerful book.
- Most importantly, remember that any good works we do in this life DO NOT give us entry into heaven. It is only through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins, and our proper response to that sacrifice (repenting of our sins, acknowledging our need for Jesus as our Savior and asking him to fill us with his Holy Spirit) that we are saved. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.(Ephesians 2:8-9)
- However, there is a direct correlation between how well we use the gifts God has given us (in this life) and the rewards we’ll receive in Heaven for being obedient. Remember that everything we have is given to us by God, and we are to be good stewards of it. Whether it’s our treasure (money), our time, or our talents, using them cheerfully and obediently for God’s Kingdom and for the hurting around us will give us clear rewards in Heaven.
- Generally, those rewards come in the form of authority and position – ruling and reigning with Christ through eternity.
- This is the epitome of a win-win-win situation. For the believer who looks for opportunities to do good deeds, we are blessed in the doing of the good deeds, and forever by the rewards we are storing up for ourselves. For the recipient of the good deed, they are blessed through our compassion and Gospel sharing. And even God is “blessed” because we are being obedient to what he calls us to do. One of my all-time favorite texts is from Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them. These good works are designed by God for US to respond to! How very cool is that!?
There is so much more! If this “teaser” has caused you to want to dig deeper, please consider getting “The Law of Rewards.” I believe it will be life-changing. The following article also talks about the subject of rewards and even addresses the concern that we could lose them. It’s worth the read!
For me personally, here’s how this deeper understanding will affect my daily Christian walk. I will still continue to long for the day when God takes me home, or Jesus returns. It is right for us to do so, and I make no apologies about that!
Not knowing when that day will come, I’ve always tempered that enthusiasm a bit by telling people that, as long as I’m still living on this earth, I want to do the work God has for me. Now, that might sound quite pious, and while the statement is true, my heart really felt like this was a far-distant second place assignment. “If I must, I’ll stay here and do some more work for God.”
But the command to be ever watchful for the good deeds God has planned for me – and the resulting eternal rewards for walking into them – has given me a fuller, more hopeful, more biblical understanding of what it means to be a good steward of every gift God has bestowed on me.
Thank you for delving deeper into this fascinating subject with me. I truly encourage you to continue this study on your own and see what truths God reveals to you! Happy digging!
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father,
and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 16:27