“Doug's Discussion - Believe In Better Rewards”

Sunday, June 09, 2019

Academically motivated students all over the country work very hard in high school to have a good GPA and get good test scores. Their goal is to get into a good college with a scholarship. To get in these places they will study for hours. They will take practice tests on their computers. They may even beg their parents to pay for private tutoring. To have this good education they will make sacrifices, saying no to anything that gets in the way of this goal. And all this happens while another place of “higher learning” exists. If you get in this place you will learn much more than what you could discover in Harvard or Yale. “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).Those who are financially wise know that to get the most out of their money they need to make investments. So these people will put a part of their income aside and put into their retirement. This requires discipline and sacrifice but the rewards they will receive at retirement are worth it to them. All of this happens while much greater rewards exist. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).Don’t you see? People work harder for rewards on earth than they do for MUCH greater rewards in heaven! This must be a question of confidence. People have greater faith in worldly things then in the existence of heavenly ones. If someone really believes in heaven then there is no effort or sacrifice they wouldn’t make to get there. If we really believe we would be willing to join the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. “Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated –the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:36-38). And why were they willing to go through these terrible trials for the cause of Christ? Because they loved Jesus and believed in heaven! I pray we do as well!

- Doug Wells

Share