The Sacrifices Rewarded.
Revelation 22:12-21
Those that labor hard are rewarded, their recognized for their performance at job site by being awarded for employee of the month, teacher of the year etc... Then there's those who are The Faithful, The Suffering, The Service Men and Women who are given Service cross medals - Awarded for "extraordinary heroism in combat", Combat action awards and many ither medal for extortionary service.
1. Jesus talked about coming soon and rewards are with him.
• “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work” (v. 12, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. Blessed are those who have washed their robes
• Rewards, by definition, are favors or perks bestowed based on performance
• Jesus says as much when he says that his rewards program is based on “everyone’s work.”
• We don’t know the nature of these rewards, but we do know, rewards are coming.
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2. Jesus even talks about rewards not just in today reading but other verses as well
• (Matthew 16:27). “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done”
• (2 Corinthians 5:10). “For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil”
• (2 John 8). “Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward”
• (Romans 2:6). “For he will repay according to each one’s deeds”
3. Those who suffer, Jesus will offer crowns especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
• To these sufferers, Jesus will offer “crowns.” Imperishable crown: 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. “1 Corinthians 9:25).
4. Those who undergo suffering, sacrifice, martyr, for Jesus’ sake Is it possible Jesus will offer “crowns?” Here are some crowns I found in the Scriptures
• Crown of rejoicing: “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy!” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
• Crown of righteousness: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
• Crown of glory: “And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away” (1 Peter 5:4).
• Crown of life: “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:
5. Finally, the idea of rewards should give every Christian pause and appreciation for those who have served and serving.
• How loyal have I been? What is the value of my work for Jesus? What will be my final evaluation?
• The apostle Paul addresses this in his first letter to the Corinthian church: “If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).
• What Paul is saying here: Many Christians who will stand at judgment day with very little for their Christian walk. “The builder will be saved, but only as through fire.” In other words, like a person fleeing from a burning building, he or she will have nothing more than the smoking clothes upon their backs.We can do better than wasting our time, resources and lives on things that do not matter.
• We can build now on a solid foundation, with our eyes on eternity. And someday, we may hear our Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:23).
