When the Lord returns He will bring our rewards with Him. He will give to every person according to what he or she has done. What a time of rejoicing this will be for those who have placed all of their treasures in Heaven! But what a time of anguish and despair for those who have disobeyed Christ by clutching to themselves the things of the present world!

We understand that each one of us, Christian and non-Christian, will receive, when Jesus returns, the results of what he or she has practiced on the earth.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10—NIV)

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:23—NIV)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7,8—NIV)

I realize it is taught among us Christians that grace prevents our reaping what we sow and that we will not be repaid according to our deeds. This is our tradition but the New Testament says otherwise—and that with utmost clarity!

The Lord Jesus commanded us to lay up our treasures in the bank of Heaven. If we do this, the Lord will bring our treasures to us when He appears. If we do not do this, He will bring only sorrow to us when He appears.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19,20—NIV)

Every one of our treasures has an earthly counterpart and a heavenly counterpart. If we grasp to ourselves the earthly, the heavenly will not be given to us when the Lord returns. He will give to every one of us according to what we have done.

Some of the treasures we can grasp to ourselves, or lay up in Heaven, are as follows:

The exercise of our will.

The kind of person we are.

The use of our body.

Our moral behavior.

Life.

Authority and power.

Relationships

Status.

Opportunities for service.

Joy.

Abilities.

The Exercise of Our Will

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2—NIV)

There is only one legitimate will in the universe, and that is the will of the Father.

To be continued.