Have you ever fantasized what it would feel like to be an Olympic champion? Just imagine yourself winning your race in whatever sport is your passion. You mount the podium inside the stadium with 100,000 people cheering for you. Around the world millions more are watching you on television. Flags are flying, cameras are flashing and the national anthem is playing as the gold medal is placed around your neck. You are the best in the world and you’ve just received your reward for all the sacrifice, training and hard work you put into it. I’ve got news for you. If you’re a Christian believer who has accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior then you too will experience a thrill similar to that of an Olympic champion, only much better.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Hebrews 12:1 – Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
When believers die their spirit will immediately go to heaven to be with the Lord. At the rapture Jesus will call all living believers to meet him in the air in their resurrection bodies before taking us back to heaven with him. At that point, all of the saints (the church) will be in heaven. Some time after that event all believers in heaven will be required to assemble so they can stand before the bema judgment seat of Christ to receive their reward for works done in the body from the moment of salvation until they entered heaven. Eternity in heaven is secure for all believers because salvation is by faith and not works. However, eternal rewards in heaven will be based on works done on earth. Your name will be called to step forward in front of Jesus. The gaze of Christ will pierce your soul. The eyes of all the saints in heaven will be on you during your 15 minutes of fame. Millions of angels in heaven will also be watching as you receive your reward. The Olympic medal ceremony will pale in comparison to the glory and majesty of the heavenly rewards ceremony. All believers in heaven will have to go through this bema judgment ceremony so start preparing for it now.
Romans 14:10-12 – But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
God classifies the works of believers into one of six areas: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble. God will test each man’s works by fire. Works deemed to be gold, silver or precious stones are indestructible and worthy objects which will survive the fire. Works deemed to be wood, hay and stubble are destructible and worthless objects which will be burned up in the fire. Only works classified as gold, silver or precious stones will receive a reward. God does not tell us explicitly what constitutes a work worthy of a reward so we must look for clues in the Bible to help us figure it out. There is a general consensus among Bible scholars that there are twelve areas of conduct that God is interested in that will most likely result in heavenly rewards of some kind:
1. How we treat other believers.
2. How we exercise our authority over others.
3. How we employ our God-given abilities.
4. How we use our money.
5. How much we suffer for Jesus.
6. How we spend our time.
7. How we run that particular race which God has chosen for us.
8. How effectively we control the old nature.
9. How many souls we witness to and win to Christ.
10. How we react to temptation.
11. How much the doctrine of the rapture means to us.
12. How faithful we are to the Word of God and the flock of God.
After believers have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior they’re left on the earth to do the work of God. As disciples of Christ we are to witness the gospel of Christ to all the world and do good works so that men may see the light of God in our actions and be drawn to the truth of God. Let’s see if it’s possible to break down the classification of heavenly rewards into something easier to understand. The lowest reward level in heaven is precious stones (plural) which corresponds with good works here on earth, the lowest level of activity required by the saints. Every good work of the believer will be rewarded and there could be many so when we refer to them as precious stones it makes perfect sense. I believe all believers will have done some good deeds that result in rewards (precious stones). The only exception might be those saints who were unborn, died as children or those saved on their deathbed. The Scriptures are very clear that no child of God will have to answer for his sins after this life so the important thing for believers to focus on is receiving heavenly rewards and those are earned by our earthly works. Whatever rewards we receive in heaven are permanent and they’ll last for all eternity. Our citizenship is in heaven and we’re aliens on the earth. Let’s make good use of the short time we have on earth to earn heavenly rewards.
Philippians 3:20 – For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly await for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – For no other foundation can one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one may be found faithful.
It is clear from Scripture that the primary duty of all disciples of Christ is the Great Commission. We are to witness the gospel of Christ to all the world in order to save souls unto eternal life in heaven. Those who sow the seed of the gospel and those who reap souls for the kingdom of God here on earth will receive a reward in heaven which will correspond to the heavenly classification of silver. I know from Scripture that God is generous and he will reward the sower and the reaper equally whenever a soul is saved for the kingdom of God. I would hate to stand before Jesus never having witnessed the gospel to anyone and never having saved anyone unto eternal life. If you don’t witness the gospel of Christ to others there’s no way you’ll hear Jesus say to you, “Well done good and faithful servant,” I don’t care how many good works you do.
Daniel 12:3 – Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
As a layman, I’ve often wondered how many souls do I have to save to please God? Our main objective in life should be to please God. I believe if you save at least one person for the kingdom of God you have nothing to be ashamed of when you stand before the bema judgment seat of Christ. In God’s economy he values quality over quantity. I’ve noticed in the Bible when God speaks about a really good harvest of anything he repeatedly uses the term “hundredfold” as the upper limit. Since I’m running my race here on earth to get the maximum rewards in heaven I’m taking my que from God. My personal goal is to save a hundredfold (100 people) for the kingdom of God. I agree with the Apostle Paul that it’s okay to seek heavenly rewards if your heart is right with God and I also concur with Paul’s thinking that it’s okay to go big and bold with our spiritual goals. I know my goal is a lofty one but then again I have the rest of my life to try to achieve it. God will judge you based on how well you use the gifts he gave you. For a preacher called to serve in the pulpit bringing 100 people to God is probably no big deal. It’s expected. But for a layman to save that many souls will result in his receiving a much greater reward because he wasn’t given that special gift and calling from God yet he obeyed the command of God to spread the gospel of Christ. Obedience to the commands of God will be rewarded generously in heaven.
Isaiah 38:17 – But you have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
Isaiah 44:22 – I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
1 Peter 4:10 – As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
I believe the top rewards in heaven, those that correspond to classification of gold, will be based on how believers have treated Jews and the nation of Israel while on earth. Numerous Scriptures warn us to treat God’s people kindly or face the wrath of God. We Gentiles owe our salvation to the Jewish people and we enjoy all the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. People want to say the church has replaced Israel as the apple of God’s eye but don’t you believe it. The Jews will always be the chosen people of God. However, the Jews are currently still being punished by God for rejecting Christ as their Messiah. However, God is faithful to his covenant with Israel and he will save a Jewish remnant on the last Day that will enter heaven with us. Jews will have a very prominent role in heaven. King David will be Jesus’ deputy in the millennial kingdom. Never lose sight of the fact that Jesus is now and always will be a Jewish Rabbi. In heaven, both Jew and Gentile will be equal in the sight of God. Both Jew and Gentile will be brothers and sisters in Christ and we will all be serving the Lord together forever. If you want to receive more honor and glory in heaven than other believers then always look for ways to protect and help Jews who needs it, consistently witness the gospel of Christ and win souls for the kingdom of God and continually do good works in the name of Jesus. I’ve given you the blueprint to win heavenly rewards but it’s up to you to implement it.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Matthew 10:42 – (Jesus speaking) – And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.