We will all be judged on that final day when the Lord Jesus will look upon our lives. It will be the things we have done that He will evaluate. It will be those things that can pass through the fire of His perfect judgment that we will be rewarded for.
What you do matters, eternally. Jesus tells us, “’Listen!’ says Jesus. ‘I am coming soon! I will bring my rewards with me, to give to each one according to what he has done’” (Revelation 22:12 GNT).
There will be some who though they make it to heaven, will find themselves bankrupt and destitute, living in the ghettos of heaven having lived a life of self-centeredness on earth. On earth, they may have had much for a short time, but in heaven, they will be left with little for all of eternity.
Grace gets you into heaven but works determine your reward when you get there. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27 NKJV).
There will be some who get to heaven and receive a reward beyond anything they could even imagine. The rewards will not be measured in earthly currency but heavenly measurements where eternal scales will weigh out eternal blessings for those whose work on earth was worthy.
The measure of an effective life is not in your earthly wealth but your heavenly treasure. “…stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value” (Matthew 6:20 TPT).
What you do today matters forever. You cannot go back in time to start over, but you can start today in all that you might do. It’s not what you accomplish that matters as much as your motives and your desire to give God the glory for everything He can do through you.
Stop adding more regret for when you get to heaven. “The Lord said: It isn’t too late. You can still return to me with all your heart… I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don’t easily lose my temper, and I don’t like to punish” (Joel 2:12-13 CEV).
If you want to gain rewards in heaven, you cannot operate by the principles of this world. The world teaches you to get more as you gather more and hold onto it with all you’ve got. But the principles of heaven teach us that as we pour out, we will be filled up with the things that really matter.
The more you pour out, the more full you will be. “Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God” (Hebrews 13:16 GNT).
Consider this, what someone gives you may impact you for a day or even a year, but how they made you feel can stay with you for a lifetime. This is a reflection of the measurement in heaven for what you did here on earth. How you treat the Father’s children will impact how the Father will treat you.
You won’t have favor with the Father so long as your attacking His children. “Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NOG).
It will only be the things you have done tested by fire that you will get rewarded for. Fire is light and will reveal all. Fire is consuming and will consume whatever does not belong in heaven. To the degree that your works are to get you noticed by men, they will be rejected by God.
The highest seat is often furthest from the stage of being noticed. “Examine your motives to make sure you’re not showing off when you do your good deeds, only to be admired by others; otherwise, you will lose the reward of your heavenly Father” (Matthew 6:1 TPT).
Even your prayers will be judged. It will be those prayers in private with your soul bare before God that you can hope to be rewarded by your praying. When you pray before others trying to impress, you might entertain men, but God will not be impressed with you.
Secret prayers impress God more because they are not trying to impress man. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6 NKJV).
Here is the test of works that will be rewarded: you did the works selflessly. When you give on earth, you gain in heaven. When you do for others on earth, the Lord will do for you in heaven. Show mercy, get mercy. Give grace, get grace. Pour out, be filled up. Forgive, be forgiven.
Be as merciful to others as you want God to be merciful to you. “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you” (James 2:13 NLT).
There is no greater thing that you can do on this earth but to stop thinking only of yourself. Consider others. Think of what your actions will mean to someone else. Learn to live selflessly, and you will be set free from the tyranny of selfishness. Live for God, love your neighbor and be humble in all you do.
So long as your focus is on yourself, you will not be able to love your neighbor. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves…” (2 Timothy 3:1-2 NKJV).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius