Eternal Rewards

ETERNAL REWARDS

It is my happiness that I have served Him who never fails to reward His servants to the full extent of His promise. – John Calvin

Consider, to provoke you to good works, that you shall have from God, when you come to glory, a reward for everything you do for him on earth.

Whatever good thing you do for Him, if done according to the Word, is laid up for you as treasure in chests and coffers, to be brought out to be rewarded before both men and angels, to your eternal comfort. — John Bunyan

He who provides for this life but takes no care for eternity is wise for a moment but a fool forever. — John Tillotson

Earth’s not our home…or is it?

The Bible teaches that our eternal home will be a place we’ve already been—earth. It will be a New Earth, a transformed earth.

Does God desire for us to give Him gifts?

We have become so conscious of having nothing to offer to earn our salvation (which of course we don’t), that we’ve translated that into “there’s nothing we can give God that will please Him.” That’s utterly false—we’re not saved by good works, but God has prepared for us a lifetime of good works (Eph. 2:8-10), which are our gifts to Him.

Does John the Baptist being called Elijah support reincarnation?

I have been studying the scriptures (Matthew), and have read that Jesus told the apostle “that John the Baptist was Elijah.” I have been in several disputes on the matter of reincarnation with non-believing friends, and yet the Lord has drawn my attention to this. Does this support the reincarnation perspective?

John the Baptism himself denies that he was Elijah. Is it possible that he himself did not realize he was?

As to Jesus’ statement about John the Baptist, doesn’t the angel Gabriel’s message in Luke 1: 11-17 offer the best explanation? This would also be consistent with ...

Does the idea we may inhabit other planets lend credit to the Mormon belief that you get your own planet when you die?

Question from a reader:
In Chapter 26 of your Heavenbook, you discuss space and time. You say, “I can easily envision our inhabiting and governing other resurrected planets.” Does this lend credit to the Mormon belief that you get your own planet when you die?

Does the Old Testament reveal many, if any, specifics about the location of those who died and were saved?

The New Testament reflects much more specific revelation from God of the afterlife. Yet there are some strong Old Testament indicators, though not nearly as many.

Job had the assurance that although he was going to be eaten by worms, he would receive a new body and in that body would actually see God face to face, obviously conscious. In Job 19:25-27 he says that “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself ...

Do We Remain Conscious after Death?

Every reference in Revelation to human beings talking and worshiping in Heaven prior to the resurrection of the dead demonstrates that our spiritual beings are conscious, not sleeping, after death.

Do you agree that if something is eternal, it is without time?

Eternity is outside the presence of time, not just from now to forever. Though eternity clearly doesn’t end, it also cannot have a beginning. It is where God Himself dwells, and therefore there is no beginning. Therefore, a person in time cannot be eternal; rather he can enter into eternity and eternal life.

Your distinction about eternity being “without time” is interesting, however perhaps not supportable. Only God is timeless. The self-existent attribute of God is called His Aseity (from two Latin words “a” and “se”, meaning “from Himself”). His personal name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 ...

Do you believe that all sin is alike to God and no sin is greater than another in his eyes?

The widely believed notion “all sin is alike” is not grounded in Scripture. All sin is bad, of course—all sin crucified Jesus. But it’s a myth that all sin is the same to God. Think of 1 Corinthians 6 and “all other sins” versus “he who sins sexually” and Proverbs where the seven deadly sins singled out, and elder qualifications with some sins that disqualify and others not mentioned.

Scripture is clear on the fact that there is greater judgment on sin that falls upon some than others. All unbelievers will stand before Christ for judgment. This judgment ...

Do you think it is biblical to talk to or pray to loved ones who have gone on to Heaven?

Question from a reader:

My daughter, Emma, died of cancer a couple of weeks ago. In light of the fact that we are ‘surrounded’ by the saints who have gone before us, who are cheering us on, I find I’m tempted to ‘talk’ to her. I don’t talk to her, because I know I need to pray to God in Jesus’ name.
     But on two different occasions I have spoken to people, non-believers, who have said that they pray to Emma. I can almost understand why they do, in light of the Scriptures about how they are at ...