The New Testament often speaks of rewards. The destiny of the saved individual after death ranges all the way from being saved as by fire to being seated on the throne with Christ—and everything in between.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:15)

What does this mean? What does it mean to be saved "yet so as by fire"?

Being saved as by fire means that Christ has judged the person worthy of being brought over to the new heaven and earth reign, but in order to be acceptable to God that person must endure prolonged suffering.

Because of the unscriptural "gospel" of today we have believers saying it does not matter how they live because they will be saved as by fire. They suppose this means they will not have as ornate a mansion or may sit on a lesser throne than is true of other more diligent believers.

Have they no idea of the torment of the fire of God? Are they aware that they may spend many years in great suffering as the immorality, viciousness, lying, scheming, and self-will are burned out of their personality? Are they anxious to die and pass into the spirit realm in their nakedness, devoid of any reward or inheritance, so they may begin what could be a very long time in the flames of spiritual torment?—perhaps to be thrown into outer darkness where they can see from a distance the light and glory of the Kingdom but not participate? Where they can hear the children laughing and singing but not be permitted to draw near? Where all around them is darkness, despair, gloom, the faces of demons, and weeping and gnashing of teeth from remorse over opportunities forever lost?

There is no suffering as excruciating as spiritual suffering. Once in the hands of the consuming Fire who is our God we no longer will be able to faint, go to sleep, flee, or die. After death we shall be intensely alive, intensely conscious, intensely aware of opportunities missed while alive on earth. The unbearable mental agony that will be experienced by those who did not recognize the day of their visitation, who wasted their Divinely given gifts and opportunities, would drive men on earth to insanity. But insanity is not possible there. There simply is no escape from the burning fire of the Lord.

"Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men."

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)

"If we neglect." How many "believers" of today are neglecting their salvation? Neglect, a casual approach, an unwillingness to consider the worth of the Kingdom of God, is prevalent among us. We are willing to strike the arrows three times and after that stop in disinterest (II Kings 13:18).

We teach the careless, the lukewarm, the distracted, that they need have no fear of death because they are saved by grace. The serpent is speaking in the ministry: "Thou shalt not surely die." This is why Christians are not working out their salvation with fear and trembling. But the Word of God declares: "You shall not escape. You have despised the blood of My Son!"

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

"Yes, but we have been taught not to fear God, only to love and reverence Him. Perfect love casts out fear. It is true that we do not have perfect love, but God is good and would never let us suffer."

This is how people think and speak in spite of the record of history, in spite of the fact that today thousands are suffering for the Gospel. It is said that more believers have been martyred in the twentieth century than in any preceding century and that in the present time a thousand Christians are being martyred each day. Are being martyred!

To be continued.