A. The comic strip characters Calvin & Hobbes have been many people’s favorites over the years.
1. Calvin is the hyper-active little boy with a wild and vivid imagination, and his companion is Hobbes, a tiger.
2. One of their cartoons shows Calvin & Hobbes lying in the shade of a tree on a summer afternoon discussing the important things of life.
3. Calvin says, “What if there is no heaven? What if this is all we get?”
4. Hobbes answers, “Well, if this is all we get I guess we’ll just have to accept it.”
5. But Calvin replies, “Yeah, but if I’m not going to be rewarded for my good deeds, I want to know it now.”
B. It’s only fair, isn’t it, for all of us know that?
1. Don’t we have a right to know that how we live in this life has a bearing on what happens in the next life?
2. Don’t we have a right to know that if we believe in God and try to faithfully serve as disciples of Jesus, that will we be rewarded?
C. I like the story told about the preacher who died and went to heaven. (Ray Heit, in Reader’s Digest)
1. There in heaven, he noticed that a New York cabdriver had been given a higher position and better place in heaven than he had.
2. “I don’t understand,” he complained to St. Peter. “I devoted my entire life to serving the Lord and His people so why did I get so little reward compared with the taxi driver?”
3. Peter explained, “Our policy is to reward results. As you know, when you preached, people slept. But when people rode in this man’s taxi, they not only stayed awake, they prayed.”
D. In another story, a wealthy woman dreamed she visited heaven and saw a mansion being built.
1. The wealthy woman asked, “Who is that mansion for?” The answer came, “For your gardener.”
2. The woman replied, “But my gardener lives in the tiny cottage on my estate. He’s a good man, but he would have more if he didn’t give it all away to his friends in need.”
3. As she continued her visit in heaven she noticed a tiny cottage being built.
4. “Who is that tiny cottage for?” she asked. The answer came, “It is for you.”
5. The wealthy woman replied, “But I have lived in a mansion all my life. I wouldn’t know how to live in a tiny cottage.”
6. The answer came, “The Master Builder is doing the best he can with the material He is receiving from you.”
7. The wealthy woman awoke abruptly from her dream and resolved to lay up for herself treasures in heaven, rather than treasures on earth.
E. Christian author, Ken Boa wrote: “If any of us would be transported to heaven for even a five minute visit, we would never be the same after our return to earth. For the first time, we would have a true perspective on the frailty and brevity of life on earth and the absurdity of giving our hearts to things that will not last.”
1. Another Christian author, John White wrote: “It is want of faith that makes us opt for earthly, rather than heavenly treasure. If we really believed in celestial treasures, who among us would be so stupid as to buy gold? We just do not believe. Heaven is a dream, a religious fantasy which we affirm because we are orthodox. If people believed in heaven, they would spend their time preparing for permanent residence there. But nobody does.”
2. I’m not sure I would go so far as John White, saying that nobody is preparing for their permanent residence in heaven, but I would agree that we likely don’t give it enough attention or value it as much as we should.
3. And I agree with Ken Boa, that a five minute visit to heaven would do us a world of good.
4. It would bring clarity and strengthen our commitment to live for Jesus with an eye on eternity.
F. I hope you have found our series on discipleship to be inspiring and challenging.
1. As we bring our series on discipleship to a close today, I want to emphasize a very important truth: faithful disciples of Jesus will receive their reward.
2. This is a very important promise from God and it is God’s will and God’s plan for us to be motivated to remain faithful because of God’s promised rewards.
G. Many of us are familiar with the incident that happened one day between Jesus and a young man who has been referred to as the rich young ruler in Matthew 19.
1. The young man came to Jesus because he was interested in eternal life and wanted to know what he had to do to be saved.
2. Jesus told him that he needed to keep God’s commandments if he wanted to enter into life.
3. After asking Jesus which commandments, and hearing Jesus rattle off the 10 Commandments, the young man said, “I have kept all these. What do I still lack?” (Mt. 19:20)
4. Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mt. 19:21)
5. The Bible says: When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. (Mt. 19:22)
H. My friend and fellow preacher, Tommy South, insightfully says: “The story of the man we call the rich young ruler isn’t just about the rich young ruler. It’s also about the poor disciples of Jesus.”
1. As you know, the apostles of Jesus had become poor materially, because they had done the opposite of what the rich young man had done.
2. The apostles of Jesus had heeded the call to follow Jesus and they had left behind everything that they had.
3. After the apostles saw the rich young man turn away from Jesus, and turn away from Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, they heard Jesus utter these startling words: “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:23-24)
I. This prompted Peter to ask a very important and personal question: “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?” (Mt. 19:27)
1. Now, this may seem like a very selfish and inappropriate question – “What’s in it for us?” - But let’s not judge Peter too harshly.
2. Keep in mind that Peter was asking the question after the fact, right?
a. They had already become disciples of Jesus – they had already left everything to follow Him, even before they understood all that it would cost them to follow Jesus.
3. Also, keep in mind Peter’s question was asked after seeing the rich young man refuse to leave everything to follow Jesus, so it seems reasonable to ask what they can expect to receive since they actually did the thing the rich young man wouldn’t do.
4. And so, how did Jesus answer Peter’s question?
a. Did Jesus rebuke Peter for asking such a question? “How dare you…!” Absolutely not!
b. Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt. 19:28-29)
5. Peter wanted to know what would be their reward for their faithful service to Jesus – what will we get?
a. Jesus answered, “You will get plenty. You will receive places of honor and authority in heaven and a hundred fold more than anything you left (in other words – no comparison).
6. But note that this promise isn’t just for the apostles, rather in verse 29, Jesus says that this promise is for “everyone” – all who chose to faithfully follow Jesus.
J. Whenever we discuss the subject of heavenly rewards, it is so important that we keep in mind that we are saved by grace and not by works.
1. Paul makes that so clear in his letters, especially in Ephesians 2.
a. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! (vs. 4-5)
b. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift - 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. (vs. 8-9)
2. Paul expresses this same truth so beautifully in Titus 3.
a. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. (vs. 4-7)
3. So there is no doubt about what saves us – we are saved because of God’s mercy and grace poured out through Jesus Christ – we are not saved by our works of righteousness.
K. So with that understanding firmly established – that no one is saved by their good works – we need to understand that the Bible also communicates that those who are saved by grace through Jesus will also be rewarded by their deeds.
1. We could look at many verses this morning to establish this truth, but let me share just a few.
2. Jesus said, “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.” (Rev. 22:12)
3. Jesus said, “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven.” (Mt. 5:11-12)
4. Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 6:1)
a. Then Jesus spoke specifically about the good works of giving, praying and fasting, saying that we should do these things in secret because, “And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (6:4, 6, 18)
5. Jesus said, “And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.” (Mt. 10:42)
6. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it….For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done.” (Mt. 16:24-25, 27)
7. Jesus said, “But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.” (Lk. 6:35)
8. So we see that Jesus had a lot to say about being rewarded, but so did other Biblical writers.
9. Paul wrote: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Cor. 5:10)
10. John wrote: Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. (2 John 1:8)
L. And so from these verses and so many more, we can see that the concept of receiving a reward for being a disciple of Jesus is a thoroughly biblical one, and it is not something we should back away from, but something we should be encouraged and inspired by.
1. God doesn’t just give us permission to get excited about future rewards, rather God delights in our wanting them.
2. In fact the Bible says that anyone who seeks after God must not only believe that God exists, but that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
3. Paul says that he ran the discipleship race with his eyes on the heavenly prize. (Phil. 3:13-14)
a. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to “run in such a way to win the prize.” (1 Cor. 9:24)
b. Paul explained to Timothy: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
c. To wealthy Christians, Paul wrote: Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life. (1 Tim. 6:17-19)
4. So it is thoroughly biblical to keep our eyes on the heavenly prize, and run in such a way as to win the prize, and to store up treasures in heaven as a good foundation for the coming age.
5. C. S. Lewis once wrote that Christians sometimes shy away from talking about our future reward so people won’t accuse us of having a “pie-in-the-sky” religion.
a. But Lewis goes on to say: “that’s only valid if there’s no pie!”
b. But Jesus says there’s “pie” and so does Paul and many of the other writers of the Bible.
c. We can expect heavenly rewards, prizes and crowns.
M. Honestly, I don’t know how all this reward stuff is going to work in heaven.
1. I don’t know what difference there will be between those whose reward is great or those whose reward is small.
2. I don’t know what difference there will be for those who have stored up for themselves many treasures in heaven and for those who have only stored up a few treasures in heaven.
3. The Bible speaks of different kinds of crowns that a person might receive.
a. There’s the crown of life for those who remained faithful through trials, persecution or martyrdom. (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10)
b. There’s the imperishable crown given for determination, discipline and victory in the Christian life. (1 Cor. 9:25)
c. There’s the crown of glory given for faithfully representing Christ in a position of spiritual leadership. (1 Peter 5:4)
d. There’s the crown of righteousness given for the faithful fighting and finishing the Christian life. (2 Tim. 4:6-8)
e. There’s the crown of rejoicing given for pouring oneself into others in evangelism and discipleship. (1 Thess. 2:19; Phil. 4:1)
4. I don’t know exactly what we will do with these crowns that we will receive – I doubt that we will be flaunting them around in heaven saying, “Nana nana boo boo, I got more crowns than you do!”
a. In Revelation 4 we are given a picture of the 24 elders who bow down and cast their crowns before the one who sits on the thrown.
b. So maybe that’s what we will do with our crowns – use them to bring glory to Jesus.
N. The Bible gives us a few glimpses into the wonder and beauty of heaven.
1. It will be a perfect place – without suffering or pain.
2. It will be a bright place – without any darkness.
3. But the most important thing about heaven is that it is a place where we will be with God.
a. In heaven we will be with God and will dwell with God in a way unlike what we have experienced in our earthly existence.
b. Revelation 21 includes these words: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. (Rev. 21:1-3)
c. Don’t you long to be in that place with God so very near?
d. The apostle Paul expressed that longing to be there in his letter to the Philippians: For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. (Phil. 1:21-24)
O. I hope that every one of us is looking forward to that day when we will receive our heavenly reward.
1. I hope the promise of God’s rewards will motivate us to remain faithful to our calling as disciples of Jesus.
2. How wonderful it is for us to know why we are here and where we are going!
3. How wonderful to have a purpose for living that will lead to the ultimate heavenly rewards!
4. If each of us will remain faithful to our Lord, we will hear the Lord say: “Well done, good and faithful servant, come and share your Master’s joy.” (Mt. 25:23)
P. I like the story told about the old missionary couple who had been on the mission field for many years.
1. The time came for them to retire and return to the United States.
2. It just so happened that their airplane arrived at the same airport and at the same time as the airplane carrying the President of the United States on a good-will tour of the country.
3. As they were departing their airplane they could see the President out on the tarmac addressing a large crowd of cheering supporters.
4. The old missionary made a comment to his wife about how sad that the President is welcomed by a crowd, but that there was no crowd to welcome home a faithful missionary couple.
5. His wife quickly and sincerely replied, “But dear, we are not really home yet.”
Q. As disciples of Jesus, we should not expect our applause or reward on this side of heaven.
1. But when it is our time to “go home”, as faithful disciples of Jesus we can look forward to God’s promised rewards.
2. But until then, we must concentrate on living as faithful disciples of Jesus.
3. And for those who have yet made a commitment to Christ, we would urge you to be reconciled to God by professing your faith in Jesus and being buried in baptism so that you will receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
4. As a brand new Christian, saved by grace, you can begin your life as a faithful disciple of Jesus that will lead to heavenly rewards.
Resources:
The Disciple’s Reward, Sermon by Tommy South.
Heaven and Rewards, Sermon by Charles Wall, Jr. on SermonCentral.com
