Heavenly Rewards

There is a prevalent message in today’s culture that whispers a sweet and appealing lie: we have the right to luxury and self-indulgence. We deserve it! This whisper takes away the sweet truth of a Gracious God and injects the poisonous lie that enjoyment must be immediate. When we seek our own satisfaction, we get lost in the pursuit of instant gratification. Instead, we should keep our eyes steadily on the goodness that we know is coming.

The truth is that God wants to reward His children. He desires that we would have abundant life and unending happiness. He promises rewards to the faithful, and He keeps His Promises. The differentiating factor is that we can trust that those rewards and promises will absolutely be fulfilled in Eternity. Our unending happiness is not meant to happen on this Earth. God wants our happiness to be unlimited and based on something secure and unshakeable. Earthly rewards are enjoyable, but they are fleeting and unreliable. Heaven’s Treasures are eternal.

To lean into the pull of God’s Kingdom instead of the tug of instant gratification requires patience and endurance. When you are tempted to give in to temporary satisfaction, remember the rewards that wait for you in Heaven. Know that your Loving Father is waiting to give you more than you could think to ask for. Let the Perfection that is to come motivate you and inspire you to live a life that aligns with Scripture. Lean into hardship with intention, knowing that it is producing strong character that will lead to faithfulness.

Sometimes, finding encouragement in a far-off reward feels impossible. Today, if you are struggling to be encouraged by what’s to come, start by taking notice of the goodness that God has already given you. Every good gift is from your Father’s Hands. As you pay attention to the way He has already moved in your life, you can be assured that He will continue to be faithful to you until the very end. He will steadily lead you for all your Earthly days until you find yourself in the Eternal Glory and Perfection of His Presence. Ask God to fill you with thanksgiving for all that He has done and all that He has promised to do.