Rewards in Heaven, Part 2: A Sweet Aroma to the Lord
In last week’s blog, we began to look at the rewards that wait for faithful Christians in Heaven and 7 principles about those rewards. This week we delve into the Scriptures related to the final 4 principles. As I studied these, I became less weary of the fight to hold fast until Jesus comes. I became inspired to go forth more valiantly and energetically. And I developed such a desire to be a fragrant aroma to the Lord.
I hope the Word of God related to the principles below refreshes you to fight the good fight! ( NOTE: You may want to read one Principle per day, due to the length.)
Principle IV. Hold fast! Persevere! The Lord knows that serving Him quietly and humbly will be hard, very hard.
He knows you will be criticized, misunderstood, mocked, and discouraged from finishing well. That is why He made sure His Word has many verses cheering you on.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Principle V. The opposition you will face will come from many directions, even friendly fire from the church and fellow believers.
When you are on mission, you will receive opposition from the world, your own selfish nature, and even church friends who misunderstand. To me, the biggest opponent we have to battle is ourselves, our self interest, and our weaknesses. He exhorts us to be conquerors! Through the mighty name of Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can conquer outward and inward enemies. Be a conqueror because through Him, you can do it!
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward.
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Principle VI. Our sacrifice has a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
In the Old Testament, blood sacrifices from the meat of animals lifted up a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The first thing Noah did when he left the ark was to offer a burnt sacrifice. It pleased the Lord so much that He promised never to strike the earth in the same way again.
You and I do not need to make these sacrifices thanks to Jesus’ blood being a once and for all sacrifice. All of our sins are covered. The sacrifices we make are willing ones; we make them out of our love for Him and desire to please Him. Don’t you love the idea of making a sacrifice that lifts up a pleasing aroma to the Lord? Our sacrifice may be to pass up the opportunity for a good retort when someone says something unkind to us. We may give up our rights in a dispute where we are clearly in the right. We can show mercy and refuse to condemn someone else even when we know he or she deserves it. Or we can be like the world and fall into stinky behavior. Keep your aroma pleasing!
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
Principle VII. We look forward to receiving our rewards on “that day” when we meet Him in Heaven.
Throughout the Bible, we are told about “the day” or “that day” when we will stand before Jesus. Some will have made many sacrifices and their rewards will be great. Others will enjoy the joys of eternal life, but not as many rewards. I have come to think of rewards as gifts I can give now, to be laid at His feet on that future day. The twenty-four elders will cast their crowns before Him. I don’t want to be empty-handed. I pray that I will have made the sacrifices that pleased Him and that He is moved to reward. My desire is to be pleasing to Him in all that I do.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
When I read that last verse, I get so excited about the coming Day of the Lord. I want to shine like the stars, forever and ever, and because of the Grace of God, I can. And so can you! Hold fast! Whatever you are facing, be a conqueror through the Lord Jesus Christ and with the help of the Spirit!