“Future Focus Present Faithfulness” Pt 3
Review
X. The Reward and Inheritance Factor
A. PRESENT AND FUTURE REWARD
B. FUTURE INHERITANCE
C. INTERMEDIATE HOME
D. RENEWED HEAVEN AND EARTH – Our permanent home
E. PRESENT HELP FROM A FUTURE HOPE
Contemplating our future heavenly existence greatly affects our present service. In fact, a failure to contemplate heaven and our future hope actually diminishes our effectiveness on this present earth. Scripture requires us to maintain a clear heavenly focus in order to manage a consistent earthly walk.
Therefore since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
We can run this grueling earthly race with endurance by fixing your eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith. The key to managing the junk of this present world lies in the ability to keep our thoughts connected to the promise of a new world. The responses connected to the revelation of God's future promises can be summarized into three main areas.
1. Inspires faithful diligent service
The motivation for working hard and using every moment is the realization that what we do here affects life hereafter. What we do here and now significantly affects position, reward, responsibility, recognition, eternal treasure and resources. The writer of Hebrews concluded his chapter on running the race by urging us to offer to God an acceptable service. Faithful acceptable service takes discipline, training, initiative, resolve. Contemplation of our future hope should inspire present faithfulness. The works we did in this life will be evaluated and rewarded. God rewards the faithful actions not good intentions.
2. Encourages continued endurance in our present service
First, be in service for the Kingdom. Second, stick with it even when it gets hard. Scripture urges us to endure, not to become weary in well doing, keep pure, stay diligent, walk worthy, serve well, and faint not in this present world in light of its connection to the life to come.
Future reward depends on present faithfulness and endurance.
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:10-12
A healthy future focus encourages a hopeful present endurance. God will not forget.
God will preside and provide. Biblical endurance transcends a tooth-gritting fight-to-the-finish attitude. Scripture instructs us not only to stay in the trial but to do it with a smile on her face.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials… James 1:2
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
1 Peter 4:12-13
How do we mange such an attitude in the face of the kind of suffering that crowds its unwelcome way into our lives at any given moment? It all has to do with a future focus, a mind set on things above. How does an athlete endure and at some point enjoy the excruciating training regimen? He looks to the future hope of glory, affirmation, salary, recognition, achievement, growth. Jesus told His disciples that any one who gave up and suffered in this life would, for sure, reap compounded reward in the next and perhaps even some in this life. A compelling heavenly awareness motivates a joyful earthly endurance. With our eye on the future goal we are able to endure the present grit. Reward comes to those who endure with a heart like Christ and the attitude of Christ. We need to endure here because it is those who endure that inherit the promises.
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
3. Promotes holy living
A healthy future focus also promotes present holy living. A clear idea of the future helps keep us accountable in the present. We may think that we get away with it, but God sees it all. We may think it doesn’t matter whether we invest in kingdom work, work in God’s building, and minister to God’s people.
We may think it doesn’t matter if we commit to some ministry for the kingdom.
We may think it doesn’t matter if I have a bad attitude toward people.
We may think it doesn’t matter if I fail to love or I ignore those in need around me.
We may think that failure to take every thought captive doesn’t matter.
The reality is, it does matter!
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
Here is the Biblical scenario.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor 3:8-15
Points of the Passage
? Even though we work as a team, God will reward individual.
? God assumes we all are workers in His field on His building.
? Each one has a specific gift and ability and responsibility in the field.
? There is only one foundation – Jesus Christ.
? We each contribute to the foundation.
? We need to be careful how we build.
? The quality of each person’s work will be tested in the next life. (The day will show it!)
? God will reward quality work.
? Faulty materials will disappear and no reward will be given.
This ought to motivate us to give God our best and to build with good motives and godly character. Most every extended passage dealing with future events also contains a strong exhortation to present holy living.
READ Peter's description of future things connected to present living.
2 Peter 3:10-18
God did not tell us about the future just for our information but for our transformation and motivation to holy living now. God recorded future happenings to motivate present holiness.
“What sort of people ought we to be?”
The Thessalonians were encouraged to walk holy by their understanding of Christ’s coming.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
They turned from the old life to serve God now as they anticipated Christ’s coming and their rescue from the wrath to come. They imitated Paul’s walk. They lived by faith.
They declared the word of God the regions around them. They lived in such a way that their lives became a testimony and encouragement to others.
I would guess the motivation comes from great gratitude for His coming grace.
1 Peter 1:13-21
Understanding future accountability also motivates present holy living.
Knowing that we will give account to God Himself should motivate a careful consideration of our present life. Hebrews 12 exhorted his readers and us to run with endurance the race set before us by thinking about the example of Jesus and the example of the faithful who have died and are cheering us on from their place in the present heaven. He reminded them that none of them were dying from resisting sin in their life. He urged them urged to joyfully submit to the Father’s training and discipline intended to train us in holy living.
It may be uncomfortable now but the present and eternal results far outweigh the temporary distress.
One, understand what Christ has done for us already.
Two, understand what Christ has promised to do in the future.
Three, understand that God disciplines those He loves.
That discipline may be instruction on how live.
It may be corrective on how to live better.
It may be reproof for failure to do live according to His standard.
He disciplines us that we may enter into the glory of what it means to live holy like He is holy.
“That we may share His holiness.”
One powerful motivation to walk holy is to understand our present relationship to eternity.
Hebrews 12:18-24
We have a vital connection to the present heaven. We are citizens of an eternal kingdom.
In light of such a glorious connection and privileged relationship, the writer of Hebrews pens some critical instruction.
Hebrews 12:25-29
In light of future events, we should be careful to listen to him now! Pay attention!
In light of the incredible promises He has made regarding the future, we should be careful to demonstrate our extreme gratitude by faithful service with appropriate reverence and awe.
We serve an absolutely holy God.
Setting our minds on heavenly things and our future hope affects present faithfulness.
? A healthy future focus inspires a faithful service.
? A healthy future focus encourages an enduring service.
? A healthy future focus encourages a holy walk.
Many have put excruciating time and energy in earthly retirement but have invested very little thought to their eternal destiny.
We will not all be the same on the New Earth.
What makes the difference there is our current living here?
How we live in this life affects our life in the next.
In light of what is to come, what kind of people ought we to be now?
Hebrews 12 addresses some very specific areas to consider as a church family.
They will be the focus of our thought over the next several weeks.
He instructs us to…
? Promote healing among the body.
? Pursue peace in our relationships with one another.
? Pursue holiness in our relationship with God.
He then addressed the things that prevent and derail healing, peace and holiness in the body.
Seeing to it that no one comes short of God’s grace.
Seeing to it that no root of bitterness take root and defile many.
Seeing to it that no one fall prey to the grip of temporal values.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24
