Thoughts on John Maxwell's arrest and our Eternal Rewards
I just watched a message from John Maxwell, author and leadership guru, in which he talked about his arrest. I didn't previously know this happened but it was a refreshing and honest talk.
John was arrested for having a gun in his briefcase in the airport. To John's credit, he admits this was a "dumb" move. He forgot it was there. In his message, he openly discussed the details and had fun with his own stupidity. He shared how he was speaking at the Crystal Cathedral the next week and they asked him it they needed to frisk him before he went on stage. He commented that while in the holding cell he had thoughts of being ruined and losing everything. I think he has a good enough track record for that not to happen, but that point got me thinking.
When those of us that have allowed Christ to make us righteous and new pass into eternity, we will go before the judgment seat of Christ. This will not be a judgment for sin, we were already judged in Christ while he was on the cross. The judgment seat of Christ is to judge our works, those things that we have built on the foundation of Christ in our lives.
There has been much speculation on what these rewards will be. Some have said the rewards will be authority over cities, some say the rewards will define our rank in Heaven, some say those rewards will be based on what we have built in this world... While noone can say or pretend to know what the Heavenly rewards will truly be, it seems closer to God's character that love is the one and only determing factor for rewards.
I believe the rewards will be based on who and how you have love rather than what you have built in this temporal realm.
While thinking of Mr. Maxwell's experience, I thought about how what we build here can potentially fall in an instant. You can be the most amazing person in this Earth and make one mistake and it all goes away. People no longer remember all the great things you've done, they forever remember the error. If rewards are bsaed on what can be lost so quickly, they are not eternal.
God is not a respector of persons, it seems unjust to base aspects of eternity on carnal and temporal efforts. God does not look on the outward appearance or effort, he looks at the heart. If your heart toward God and others was put on display for all to see, what would people learn about you?
The heart is the real you, not your work, actions, efforts, accomplishments, mistakes or even sins. If you have reveived the free gift of righteousness, provided in the sacrifice of Christ, you have a brand ne heart. From that point on, the way you love will reap eternal rewards. When you stand before Christ, and those dead works are burned away, and what is pure remains, Jesus will look at you and say... well done, you have loved well.
Are you loving well today?
Life is too short to stay stuck in the past or afraid of the future. Your provision is based on God's value for you. You are precious to him, let go and choose to believe...love out loud forever more!
