THE BENEFITS OF DEATH - There is A Reward After Death

         

      As strange as it may seem, I think the greatest day that awaits those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and walk with Him is the day we exit from this material world. To us, death should be a blissful transition into an eternal weight of Glory; our lives in this material world is part of the pilgrimage we embarked on, the day we accepted Jesus as our Lord and personal savior to that city; the city whose builder is God the creator of the universe himself according to Hebrews 11:10 (KJV) “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”. Having this hope and assurance it is important our lives should be rid of any attachment to this world and material possession as well as filth. 

    How we conduct ourselves in this world is very important; our conduct in this world should bear similitude to that of our patriarchs who refused to be too mindful of the material things of this world by behaving themselves in a manner that is worthy of the promise. We must embrace the consciousness that our conduct in this world will be rewarded; every activity we engaged in lays bare before God and he will come and reward our works. The bible puts it this way “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”  Revelation 22:12 (KJV). As we go about conducting God’s business on this earth we must have this assurance that God is the rewarder of them who diligently seek him. 

     He will reward us as we grow in him and become fruitful. Looking forward for this reward of faithful stewardship should give us confident to approach our appointment with death as the time draws closer.  Apostle Paul, being convinced of the reward that awaits him as he leaves this material world is what made him make this assuring statement – “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4: 7 -8 (KJV). 

      It is only those who are busily discharging their duties assigned to them by the master who would love the day of His appearing and accountability. As we age and draw closer to our last days on this material world, we must not be afraid of what the future hold for us, to have this confidence we must diligently do the work of him who brought us on this earth and we must not let the failures of yesterday hold us back, but we must press on to fully develop and deploy all the potential that is in us in a way that brings Glory His name.Jesus made a very significant point in the parable of the talents in Mathew 25:14 – 34. 

      In this parable Jesus talked about the reward of those who have lived a fruitful life; he stressed on the facts that every gifting’s, ability, knowledge, advantage etc. we have in life is given by God and we must be diligent and fruitful with them in a way that is pleasing to the giver of the gifts.  The parable talked about A master who gave his three servants talents to trade with; he gave the first one 5 talents, and gave the second one 2 talents and the he gave the 3 servants a talent. After sometime the master came back from his trip and called his three servants to give an account of the respective talents he gave them.

    The first and second servants gave an account of their talents; and the fact that they made 100% profits with their talents, the master was pleased with them, rewarded them with a promotion. However, the last servant who had only one talent complained and gave excuses for his inability to make profits with his talent and this is the reward of the master to him “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”Mathew 25:26- 30 (KJV). 

   The reward the master gave the unprofitable servants should be a reminder to us that we are just stewards of everything that we have- our talents, knowledge, time, children, beauty, advantages, money, fame, achievements etc. One day we would have to give an account of how we used these resources and receive our corresponding rewards “For God will reward each of us according to what we have done” Romans 2:6 (GNB).  It’s only when you know beyond every shade of doubt that you have made a maximum use of the resources at your disposal in a way that is acceptable to God that you can look forward to the rewards that the master brings.

     The reward the Lord will give us will eventually usher us into a reign of total dominion of the earth; it will be a total restoration of the mandate that we lost in Adam. This mandate will be restored in Christ Jesus, the second Adam - “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” Revelation_5:10   and “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” Revelation_22:5 

      TO BE CONTINUED............................................