We are like toddlers peering through a keyhole at the night sky, trying to hold on to our tiny patch of stars. But the keyhole is so small and the view is so great Jesus wants to open the door and show us more. Much more. (pg. 9)
This is the illustration that Dr. Bruce Wilkinson uses for the title of chapter one and to help us see that there is more to Jesus' teaching on rewards than what we have ever understood.
Jesus was trying to tell us that our actions, the things that we do today, will affect our future forever.
When Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount, He was not talking about rejoicing in the face of persecution, but He was talking about rejoicing over something great He would do for you in heaven because of something you do for Him on earth. Jesus described what He would do as a "reward". (pg. 10)
In Luke 6:22-23, Jesus said ...
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven.
This is a reward for doing, not a gift you receive for believing. This reward is for you and only you, if you behave in a certain way. However, it is not yours if you behave in another way. Since Jesus is speaking about persecution, if you run away in the face of persecution, you will not be given this reward.
Jesus is not asking for us to enjoy misery on His behalf. However, He is saying that there are consequences in heaven for certain actions that we take here on earth. Those consequences will be so wonderful that knowing that they are coming and that they will be great will transform how we live in the present.
Jesus spoke about the promise of rewards in heaven on several different occasions. Here are a few examples ...
Matthew 16:27 ...
He will reward each according to his works.
Matthew 19:21 ...
You will have treasure in heaven.
Luke 14:14 ...
You will be blessed ... for you shall be repaid at the resurrection.
These scriptures suggest that God is keeping track of all that you do for Him every day. You have more to gain by serving Him than you ever imagined!
Like you and me, Dr. Wilkinson was startled at Jesus' teaching on rewards in heaven.
What He (Jesus) was saying seemed to contradict much of what I had always been taught and believed. (pg. 12)
Thus began Dr. Wilkinson's search for truth about the subject of eternal rewards. Five years later and with twelve binders full, he concluded his research. Dr. Earl Radmacher, president of Western Seminary in Oregon, invited Dr. Wilkinson to come to the seminary and share his research before a panel of leading scholars. One of these scholars said ...
I thought God brought me here to learn more about eternal rewards, but I was wrong. He brought me here to change my heart -- I'm leaving a changed professor! (pg. 14)
The Bible scholars were convinced that Dr. Wilkinson's teaching on rewards was consistent with what Jesus taught.
As you study the teachings of Jesus you will find two keys that determine everything about your eternity.
Key number one is belief.
This key unlocks the door to eternal life and determines where you will spend eternity. (pg. 15)
Key number two is your behavior.
This key unlocks the door to reward and determines how you will spend eternity. (pg. 15)
The second key is the focus of A Life God Rewards. As you follow my review of this book and I hope read the book for yourself, you will begin to see how everything you do today matters forever. (pg. 16)
In Dr. Wilkinson's first book of his three book series, The Prayer of Jabez, ...
We learned that God wants us to ask for His blessing and for greater influence, or "territory," in this world. (pg. 16)
In Dr. Wilkinson's second book, Secrets of the Vine, he showed that ...
Jesus wants our territory to produce a great harvest of good works for Him. (pg. 16)
In Dr. Wilkinson's third book, A Life God Rewards, you see how ...
... the harvest you produce will directly impact your experience in eternity -- and how that truth can change your life today for the better. (pg. 16)
Next, Chapter 2: The Unbreakable Link
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