In It For The Reward

(Remember the Prayer Points for this week)

This morning I posted a current favourite on me playlist, Marvin Winans’ singing The Winans classic ‘For We May Never Know‘.

In that song I suggested you listen carefully to the lyrics and as with most classics you could spend considerable time on different parts of the song. The bit that stuck out for me on one hearing is the last phrase of the chorus.

And when the end, does finally begin

We will receive a great reward for what we’ve done

Now there could be knee-jerk reaction to that to try and dissuade anyone from thinking about Christianity as a work, where your efforts by yourself get you to win better prizes than others. As though the race is to get ‘the best mansion’ etc. I’d like to think that’s not the gist of that phrase.

What it does highlight, however, is something very important about the Christian journey. This is a journey with a destination in mind. This is a search with a reward ahead. Sometimes we can get all mushy about the journey as if the process is more important than the outcome.

Let me be very clear – I am in it for the reward. It’s only a slight disagreement with some of the views of others, but if there was no reward attached to Christianity, I wouldn’t bother with it. Don’t get me wrong, being saved from the wrath of God is something for which I’m hugely grateful, but there’s got to be more to it than just getting out of something. There has to be something in it for me.

Let us also be very clear – there was something in it for Jesus when He died on the cross. He didn’t do it just because He is love – He did it with a reward in mind, chiefly His Bride in His own feast at the end of time and continuation of eternity.

This as well brings into being the important question of what the reward is that I’m going for. When you read other people’s approach to following Jesus, you can get mixed messages as to the goal. For some it is that ‘mansion in the sky’ and the thought that going to a place where the streets are made of pure gold can’t be a bad retirement destination. For some it is the thought of having eternal life free of pain and sickness where all tears are wiped away. For some it is the thought of seeing a loved one who passed on. For some it is the glorious thought of being rulers over God’s eternal kingdom.

Yet for me, if that was the reward – if that was it – there would be something hugely missing from the whole deal. By huge, I mean on a divine scale. It comes back to the focus of the faith. The beauty of Christianity is that it is something about God, driven by God with the goal being oneness with God. For me the reward is eternity with Jesus Christ. He is not just in the journey, He is the point of the journey – He is the destination. Everything else pales into insignificance in the face of being in His presence eternally.

That is why I am eager for His rule to be experienced now in my life with its various challenges. I’m eager for His rule to be manifest in my sphere of influence, among my family, friends and community. I’m eager for His rule for His rule to be made known now and ever more realised in anticipation for that which is to take place – that which He promises will happen when the end begins.

So I read what the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I read that and I say to myself what is the reward for those who seek Him, other than Him? What else is there?

So as well as never knowing the lives that we touch in worshipping God and serving others, there is that great reward that motivates me. That great reward for those who seek Him. That great reward in fulfilment of what He said for those who seek …

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd