The Nature of Rewards - GraceLife Church of Pineville

Introduction

I remind you of the truth we began with in our exploration of eternal judgment: Everyone has to die once; after this comes judgment. This idea is from Hebrews 9—not far from the passage (Hebrews 5:12–6:2) that talks about the six elementary principles of the oracles of God that we’ve been studying for over two years. (We’re currently on the sixth and final principle, eternal judgment.¹)

Hebrews 9:27 specifically says, “It is appointed for men² to die once and after this comes judgment.”

Death and judgment: the universal guarantees to all mankind.

Of course, we have to add a little asterisk by “death” and say “with the exception of the rapture.” As explained in a previous sermon, there will be a generation that is instantaneously changed (without going through death first). However, for most people across history, we will face death and judgment.

To this larger group, the writer of Hebrews adds another subset—an undoubtedly smaller subset of people who eagerly await Christ’s return.³ Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” The twin guarantee of death and judgment, I think, makes it all the more interesting to look at the end of a person’s life: What were the final moments? If we could find such a person, what were the final moments like for the one who was eagerly awaiting Christ’s return?

I know of such a man. I know of such a moment. Let’s look at the life of the apostle Paul and how he characterized the end of his own life.

Paul: Eagerly Awaiting Christ’s Return

The general consensus is that 2 Timothy was the last of the apostle Paul’s letters. You can see from the context of his writing, Paul knew that the end was near. In the last chapter of the book he writes:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6–8)

Into these three verses, Paul manages to weave three metaphors for the end of his life:

He calls himself a drink offering—being spent, poured out—that last portion of that which is offered on the altar
He calls himself a fighter
He likens his life to a journey, a race, or long trip

As with other passages dealing with end times matters, there are multiple approaches to this passage in 2 Timothy. Some will take a very general approach to the passage, others a more specific approach. I’ll be arguing for the latter.

A general approach would say that Paul uses this metaphorical language to go on and talk about our general salvation. This view contends that he is saying (in essence), You know, our righteousness will eventually be realized when we meet the Lord. We’ll all get this crown of righteousness. This general approach would say this crown is a reference to when believers finally get to be with God (i.e., go to Heaven)—that it is something all Christ followers will enjoy.

This phrase “all who have loved His appearing” (v. 8) could reference the idea that believers love the first Advent—the initial appearing of Christ, that is, Christmas. They believed in Him as Messiah, and as a result they will receive righteousness. And Paul does use “appearing” that way even earlier in 2 Timothy.

A second way to look at a passage like this is to say that it’s not really a general judgment, a general speaking about end-times events, but a more specific judgment. Paul could be speaking of this death-then-judgment theme and of a specific reward or prize given to those who “loved His appearing.” In other words, those who are found living faithfully—anticipating the Master’s return—when He returns will be rewarded.

As I said, I’m going to argue for this specific view, not just because of the context, but because of what I think I see in the whole of Scripture.

Nevertheless, even in this passage, I think there is some specific distinction surrounding this idea of future judgment. Just look at how the chapter begins. Remember, this is Paul’s last chance to say something to Timothy in writing, and he starts to close his letter like this: “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom …” (2 Timothy 4:1, emphasis mine).

I’m going to argue that the “appearing” and “kingdom” of Christ reference two separate but related events—just as the judge of the living and the dead are separate but related groups.

Now what I want to speak about the most is the end of Paul’s life and the way he’s struggling (it’s not looking like his life will end in blessing, based on his circumstances). But first, I feel compelled to say something about the nature of the reward itself—in particular, this “crown” business (see v. 8a).

A Crown of Righteousness

A crown might seem to you altogether unappealing. Yay, a crown. And no, that’s not an incorrect or glorified translation. The idea is that of a wreath, the prize of an athlete.

If you find the idea of a crown as a reward unappealing, that’s unfortunate because even more unappealing than that is the work itself.

Don’t lose sight of the metaphors at play: fighting, running a long race. Hey, welcome to the team! Here’s what’s next: Step into this arena where dark forces are out to kill you every day. Just keep running this race until you die.

Sounds fun, right?

I spent the past few seasons at my son’s cross-country championships, and I watched the winners cross the line. What they do not want in that moment is for someone to say, “Hey, let me show you your medal!” In that moment of victory, they’re just glad the race is over.

What I propose to do in this sermon is this: I want to use the Crown of Righteousness as representative of any number of rewards that might be given to the faithful believer. Now there are a good many Bible teachers who approach this “crown” in a much more literal sense than I do. They will suggest that there are literal crowns, which are enumerated in Scripture, and that they’re tied to specific actions. I’m not saying that’s a wrong interpretation—it might be true. But I’d rather take a different approach to the nature of rewards.

In particular, I’m going to look at three categories of possible rewards. There will be some overlap between categories, and you could say there are some subsets within them, but I believe there are just three main categories of possible rewards that help us think about what Scripture might be saying about future rewards. The three categories are as follows:

Category 1: Actual physical gifts/rewards (something that you are given—a literal crown or prize or something else)
Category 2: Personal enrichment (something that adds to who you are, adds to your being)
Category 3: Privileged position

Let’s talk about each category in turn.

A Clarification of Terms: Gifts vs. Rewards

First, however, let me just say that I will be using the terms “gift” and “reward” loosely. I’ve made clear in prior sermons that Heaven is a gift, not a reward. When I talk about rewards, I might use the term “gift,” but the idea is that of a thing that’s given. There are, in a certain sense, wages that are worked for and earned, but you’ve only earned them in a system that God has set up. He doesn’t owe us these things, but given the fact that He says, “If you do X, you will get Y,” we call them rewards, as they’re things we work for, even though they are also in a sense gifts—they’re given to us by the Lord.

Category 1: Actual Physical Rewards

The season of gifts is upon us. When it comes to the possibility that future reward might be physical gifts (or tokens/rewards), don’t go all Scrooge on me. Don’t Bah, humbug! the Gift Giver. We’re reminded in the book of James that God gives good and perfect gifts. That’s the kind of Father He is.

What if it really is a physical token? What if our reward really is something physical that you receive?

I hope this fallen world hasn’t so darkened your imagination that you think all physical things are worthless or meaningless or uninteresting. Even in this fallen world, there are some gifts that are, in and of themselves, so great that you wouldn’t care who gave them to you.

You see this at Christmas when kids just tear open the presents, and the parents say, “Wait, wait, wait, who gave that to you?” The kids don’t care!

There are other gifts that are nothing in terms of actual value or function, but they are priceless because of who gave them to you.

As an example, there’s a painting that hangs in Pastor Jerome’s office at GraceLife. At one point in its history (this is a true story), it was a gift from the richest man in the world. That’s not why Jerome and I treasure it, though. We value it because it was a gift to us from a dear saint who is now with the Lord. And its value is because she wanted us to have it.

Look at what Revelation says about receiving something from the Lord (Christ is speaking to the churches here):

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.⁴ To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)

I’m reminded of a passage in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, from The Fellowship of the Ring. There is an end of sorts at this point in the story, a transition in the journey, and the elves are leaving gifts with the Fellowship. Here’s the description of Aragorn receiving his gift:

Then she lifted from her lap a great stone of a clear green,⁵ set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings; and as she held it up the gem flashed like the sun shining through the leaves of spring …. “In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the House of Elendil!”

Then Aragorn took the stone and pinned the brooch upon his breast, and those who saw him wondered; for they had not marked before how tall and kingly he stood, and it seemed to them that many years of toil had fallen from his shoulders.⁶

Don’t forget, we live in a world of magic. It’s possible that a physical gift, that the manna from Heaven, will bring to you a power and a pleasure that could cause you for all eternity to say, “I was made for this and this was made for me.” I hope you can understand the eternal joy possible.

The picture is that the possession of this gift caused others to see who this person really was. And for the possessor of the gift, the story shows the eternal joy that must come with the prize of this white stone.

Listen, I still have a pile of rocks that I picked up as a little boy, and I still think they’re cool. Can you imagine what it must be like to live the next life as part of the white stone club? There goes Jessica—I hear she has a stone. I wonder what name He gave her.

A stone is something that you would treasure because it is a treasure, a precious gem. But it’s also something that would signify a personal enrichment because it would signify a personal relationship with the Savior. He gave it to me. He gave me this name. It’s something we share. It’s something between us.

On that note, let’s talk about the second category of possible rewards.

Category 2: Personal Enrichment

This idea of personal enrichment refers to a new standing, an expansion of being.

For an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at Daniel 12. It is at the end of this book of prophecy where Daniel is being told about a time that we refer to as the Great Tribulation. We looked at this passage during our series on the resurrection from the dead, because it is a clear Old Testament passage regarding that topic (speaking of the resurrection of the wicked and the righteous). We’ll pick up in verse 2 for context:

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake,⁷ these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:2–3)

I think this passage is teaching that there is a glory that all believers share—a certain shining we will all possess. But there’s an interesting concept at the end of verse 3: “Those who lead the many to righteousness” are shining “like the stars forever and ever.” There seems to be levels of glory. All will shine. But those who live faithful lives, those who share the gospel, those who lead others in paths of righteousness—they shine even brighter.

All will shine. But those who live faithful lives, those who share the gospel, those who lead others in paths of righteousness—they shine even brighter.

To extend the illustration, they have a greater luminescence either because they receive a greater share in the light (Christ gives them more light) or because they caused others to see and to gain righteousness; their influence is linked with this other shining being whom they led to righteousness, and so they possess both their own light and the reflection of the light of the other.

So what? I get to glow in the next life … that’s what you’re telling me?

Well, maybe not, but again, don’t discount the literal meaning. Angels, we are told, appear in the midst of great light. We celebrate that at Christmas. It’s also the explanation given about Jesus. Let’s look at that reference because, as I’ve tried to stress in this series, it occurs contextually within instruction and exhortation about the coming of the Lord. And again, it is in a letter to Timothy, where you’ll see familiar language:

Fight the good fight of faith;⁸ take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)

Paul has eternal life because he’s believed in Christ, but the idea in this verse is to “take hold of” it—possess it. As James says, and as we’ve referenced before, “Receive the word implanted” (1:21). The Word has already been implanted, but we have to receive it, take hold of it, live out of it.

Paul continues:

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. (1 Timothy 6:13–16)

In this idea that there is a reward of a change in capacity for us, an enlargement of who we are, we see here what must be a change in being that allows us to see Him, because right now you can’t. Something about us changes that allows us to see Him—and not only to see Him, but to share in this glory, this glorious light.

Something about us changes that allows us to see Him—and not only to see Him, but to share in this glory, this glorious light.

Minimally speaking, then, the light is a picture of a share in the glory of Christ, whatever that might be. And there’s nothing that will bring you more joy than sharing in this light.

Sharing in the Light

I don’t want to put a lot of weight in it, but if you read any near-death experience, it’s almost always universal: testimony of a warm, overwhelming light that the person didn’t want to leave. I don’t know about those accounts, but I do know that sharing in this light is a sharing in God’s love.

Sharing in this light is a sharing in God’s love.

We’ve talked about loving others a lot. We’ve talked about loving others being defined as “willing the good of another.” But also, you need to know that love, in terms of loving oneself or experiencing love, is a uniting to the beloved. It’s a willing of the good for another and a uniting to the good. When we love ourselves, we want ourselves to be united to the good. And a sharing in this light will be a uniting to the ultimate good. We see this—this uniting with that which we love on earth—in various forms. We desire it in various forms in our relationships here on earth. We see it in the union of lovers or in the company of friends. We see it in hugs from family.

Any pleasure received in this life that’s derived from such unions points to the unity in the life and light of Christ that we will experience one day. You should want as much of that as you can get. To say “I care not about rewards” is to say “I care not about experiencing the love of Christ in the greatest way possible.” Don’t say that! Thomas Aquinas says this about the light:

This light makes the creature like God. The more such light there is in the mind, the more perfectly the mind sees God. And those who have the greater love have the more light. Greater love causes greater desire, and desire is itself in some way a predisposition making man fit to receive what he desires. So those who love more will see God more perfectly and be more blessed.⁹

Be more blessed. To use the language Paul uses in the New Testament, “Excel still more.”¹⁰ And in the words of Jesus Himself: Come that you “may have life, and have it abundantly.”¹¹

To say “I care not about rewards” is to say “I care not about experiencing the love of Christ in the greatest way possible.”

You might be wondering, If some are going to shine more brightly, won’t I be jealous? The answer is no—jealousy doesn’t exist there. Will some be happier than others? In a manner of speaking, yes.

The most famous analogy is that of the filled cup. You’ll be satisfied in the next life, supremely satisfied. You’ll be filled to capacity. You won’t be able to take anymore. But it could be in this life you are working toward what kind of cup you are. Will you be a little espresso cup? (Make no mistake, I love espresso—fill it to the top.) Or will you be a big thermos? And so, both are full, but the large vessel, the large cup, has more joy. And the possibility of gaining more joy in the next life comes from what you do in this life.

You’ll be filled to capacity. … But it could be in this life we are working toward what kind of cup you are. Will you be a little espresso cup … [or] a big thermos?

Enriched by Christ’s Words

Another area of personal enrichment coinciding with the way in which we experience and reflect Christ is going to be the words that Christ Himself could potentially speak about us.

Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 4, the chapter right after the one that talks about the judgment seat of Christ, where our works will be judged.¹² In chapter 3 of the same letter, Paul used metaphorical language—from agriculture and architecture (building on this foundation of Christ)—to discuss testing with fire what remains. The Corinthians, being the Corinthians, were arguing over superiority. Paul continues his thoughts like this:

Do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives¹³ of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Reread that last phrase: Each man’s praise will come to him from God.

Have you ever had a professor or coach, or some other person, whom you greatly admired give you praise? The person tells you, “You did a good job.” You still remember that, don’t you? You smile when you think about what they said, when they said it, where they said it, and how they said it. Can you imagine what it would be like to hear those words from God?

Let’s turn to Revelation 3. And again, in these contexts, you’ll see that the rewards mentioned aren’t given to everyone. They are given to the faithful worker:

You have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:4–5)

The Lord, speaking in Heaven, and gaining the attention of the Father and of all the angels, says, “This person, John, I confess. I praise his name for who he was in this life.”

Believe me, you won’t forget that moment when such words are uttered. You’ll carry it through all eternity.

We long to hear the words “Well done. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I hesitate to say this, but it’s a little bit of a pet peeve of mine when I hear that phrase at funerals. It’s said so often. That’s the Lord’s phrase to give. Let Him utter it. It’s okay to think some person will probably hear those words, but it’s the Lord who will say them. He gets to make that judgment.

Speaking of those words, let’s look at the context in which that phrase is uttered, as it speaks to the last type of rewards that we’ll cover.

Category 3: Privileged Position

Luke 19:11 says:

While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

This parable is told in the context of the kingdom. In Jesus’s time, it was a common thought (among Jews) that Christ was going to set up a kingdom on earth. The reason is because the Scriptures speak toward that. And when Christ was crucified and resurrected and came back to visit the apostles, they were still asking, Is it now? Is the kingdom now?¹⁴

What I propose is that one of the rewards is the privileged position of getting to rule in Christ’s kingdom. Christ has to say (paraphrasing), “Hey, about that Kingdom—it’s not now; it’s going to be in the future.” And here’s the parable He tells:

A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his servants,¹⁵ and gave them ten minas¹⁶ and said to them, “Do business with this until I come back.” But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to reign over us.” When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. The first appeared, saying, “Master, your mina has made ten minas more.” And he said to him, “Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.” The second came, saying, “Your mina, master, has made five minas.” And he said to him also, “And you are to be over five cities.” Another came, saying, “Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “By your own words I will judge you, you worthless servant. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?” Then he said to the bystanders, “Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.” And they said to him, “Master, he has ten minas already.” I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence. (Luke 19:12–27, emphasis mine)

This is a parable about the kingdom. It is a parable about being rewarded with authority in the kingdom. It is a parable, yes, but I think it is also a parable with a literal point.

And if there is to be a literal kingdom, there are to be rulers.

Look again at Luke, this time, chapter 22 (these are the words of Jesus):

You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (vv. 28–30)

Last I checked, that never happened. But I believe the words of Christ in these verses of Luke 22: There will be a kingdom. And then His apostles who have stood by Him in trials will sit on thrones judging Israel.

Oh, well that’s probably just for the apostles.

Well, yes, judging Israel probably is for the apostles—these thrones are probably for them. But there’s a promise to you, too—a promise that you will rule in Christ’s kingdom.

There’s a promise to you, too—a promise that you will rule in Christ’s kingdom.

Conclusion: A Charge to Endure

Let’s return to 2 Timothy (the letter we started this sermon with):

For this reason I endure all things¹⁷ for the sake of those who are chosen,¹⁸ so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement:¹⁹

For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
If we endure, we will also reign with Him … (2 Timothy 2:10–12)

One death and one judgment is appointed to everyone—once to die and then judgment.

The death aspect has been taken care of, as the trustworthy statement of 2 Timothy 2:11 says (“We have died with Him.”).

What awaits? The judgment. So, endure.

I challenge you “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom”²⁰: endure.

The reward of reigning with Christ is worth seeking. Seek ye first the kingdom.²¹ Aim to stand before the judge of the living and the dead as one who lived and died for the kingdom.

Aim to stand before the judge of the living and the dead as one who lived and died for the kingdom.

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