Keeping Our Good Works Good

I find myself longing for Heaven more and more, the older I get.  I wonder what it will be like in Gods presence.  The other day I was thinking about Heaven and about being there with the Lord and I quickly thought about something that I heard an 11 year old preacher mention.  He asked the question “Is it possible to not receive any rewards in Heaven?”  I, like him, don’t want to get to Heaven and have nothing to give back to Jesus to try to thank Him for what He has done for me.  So….. how is it that we get those rewards?

We, as preacher’s wives, or Christians in general need to be careful not to get caught up in doing our good works for mans applause, but because we want to please our Lord.  I think that there is such a fine line in keeping a good reputation as a preachers wife and trying not to wreck his ministry; and doing good works because that is what would be pleasing to God.

Before I get to Heaven, I want to do as much as I can for God on earth.  I want to live a life that brings Him glory and point others to Him.   There is nothing else that matters when compared to His greatness, His glory, His wonder, His beauty, and His grace.  What else is there?  Why live if I cannot live for Him?  Why strive if it doesn't glorify Him?  Why seek to work and accomplish in this life if it is not for Him? We can accomplish much in this world.  We can gather possessions and money.  We can raise families.  We can show kindness, donate money and time for the benefit of the hurting.  We can give and help; yet, if it is not for God's glory, what good is it?  Yes, I know that it is good to help people. But, on the Day of Judgment when we are standing in the infinite purity of holy majesty, will those things done to help others really matter?  It depends.

Something is good if it is done for the purpose of glorifying God and in the name of Christ; that is, if it is done because it is a response to the Cross and for God's glory.  If we feed the poor because it makes us feel better or so that we can be recognized, then our reward has already been given, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:  for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” (Matt. 6:5).  If we give money to help others because it is a good thing to do, then we have already received our reward in self satisfaction.  But, if we help others because it is what God wants us to do, because we have been redeemed by Christ, because we are seeking to demonstrate the goodness of God's grace to others, then that is a good work and the reward is yet to come.  "Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev. 22:12). God sees what we do in secret.  He knows the motives of our hearts and knows if the center of our lives and deeds is Him or ourselves.  The rewards given are based  on the motives.  Col. 3:23-24 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ." 

In reality, there is nothing we can do that is pure.  We are touched by sin in all that we are.  Yet, God says we will receive rewards in heaven.  This can only be because of His goodness and grace and not because of what is in us or what we do.  I see our rewards as God's gift to us... but for a reason: because He loves us and because we can bring glory to Him.  In Rev. 4, the twenty-four elders represent the Christians and the crowns are symbolic of the rewards God gives to us.   Look at what it says.  (10)“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that is on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and forever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying (11) Thou art worthy, O lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  How great of an opportunity we will have to be able to bow before the Lord and lay before Him all the good things we have done in His name.  

Actually, anything good we do is because of God's grace and He is the one who should get the credit.  I long for that day of bearing all before the Lord and laying my crown before Him to the praise of His glory. He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power. What is the reason for your life?  What is in the depths of your heart?  For whom do you live?  Are you storing up rewards here on earth, or up in heaven