When building a house, it is very important to follow a plan and use approved materials and methods. Some builders choose to use inferior materials or did not follow approved methods. Later on their unscrupulous shortcuts were discovered. It was too late to try and cover it up. Their name was tarnished and their reputation ruined.

Even if they were to go back and correct the problems, it was too late to try and save their reputation. They had compromised and could no longer be trusted to do a good job. Most likely, others will hear about it quickly and it may even appear in the local newspaper.

This situation reminds me of a spiritual matter. The Bible gives believers clear guidelines as to how Christians are to live. It is sad to find so many claiming to be following the Lord, yet they do so little of what God said to do.

For instance, the Bible tells believers to do the following:

1. Go to church (Hebrews 10:25)

2. Get baptized

3. Give the tithe to the church

4. Abstain from being like the world (I John 2:14,15)

5. Read your Bible daily

6. Tell others about Jesus

7. Love God

8. Husbands – love your wife (and vice versa)

9. Train your children to follow God (you cannot do this well if they are not in church!)

10. Quench not the Spirit

Now, I am not thing to be mean or unkind, but those who think that their compromises will not be noticed by God are only fooling themselves. Like the builders that think their shortcuts will not be noticed – everything will be exposed at the Judgment Seat of Christ! He always sees what we do or fail to do! On that day you will reap exactly what you have sown – and there will not be any way to undo it!

Although none of us can change what we have done in the past, we can change how we will live from this day forward. If these thoughts from God’s Word have spoken to your heart, why not talk to our gracious Father right now and get forgiven for failing do do His will. Stop compromising. Then, ask Him for wisdom and strength do start doing things His way – without excuses. He will gladly give you the grace you need to obey Him – and then you will be glad to reap a better reward in eternity.

There are two major judgments mentioned in the Bible. The Great White Throne, which is revealed in Revelation 20:11-15, and it is where all lost people will be judged. None of them will go to Heaven.

The other one, called the Judgment Seat of Christ in the above verse, is only for believers. Thank God – no believer ever has to worry about having to appear before the other judgment.

Even though believers will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ, salvation will never be an issue there. Everyone that appears there is saved and will go to Heaven. They have trusted in the finished work of Christ on the Cross to pay for their sins.

What they will be judged for is what they did after their redemption. How will they be rewarded for what they did after salvation? Did they use the spiritual gifts that God gave them after salvation for His glory and to bring other people to Him? Or did they bury their talents like the unfaithful servant?

Although we do not know everything there is to know about the Judgment Seat of Christ, it likely will not be the picnic that some believers expect. You see, God cannot overlook sin or unfaithfulness. He also tells us that people can lose their rewards (II John 8).

God desires to bless. He gave you everything needed to serve Him faithfully. Are you doing your best? Will you receive rewards or be shamed on that day?

It has been said for many years that Christ is coming soon. It’s still true. In fact, we are much closer to that hour than we were just a year ago.

The whole world knows that something is about to happen – even unbelievers. Everyone can sense it. Why is it then that so many believers seem to be asleep?

COVID seems to have killed the desire of many to go to church and serve God. They got out of the habit and have not shaken it off yet – no victory.

Notice that the verse above says that Jesus “cometh at an hour when ye think not.” With so many believers having given up hope – and certainly not being ready – it sounds very much like it could be any minute!

Think about it, Christian, can you call yourself ready for His appearing? That means having more than a feeling and lip service. It means doing what He said to do until He returns.

The parable of the talents was meant to illustrate Jesus, like the king going to a far country and giving to each servant differing amounts of talents. Then He returned from the journey: “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them“ (Mt. 25:19)

The reckoning in this verse refers to Christ calling into account what each of His children did with the talents He gave them in His absence. Then, they are rewarded for their profit to the King. Note what happens to the servant that did nothing with the talent: “Thou wicked and slothful servant… 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“ (Mt. 25:26-28).

My dear Christian brother and sister, the Judgment Seat of Christ for believers is a serious thing. It will affect your eternity – not your salvation – but your rewards. There is nothing in Scripture that says you will have a second chance to earn more rewards. Thank God He forgives our failures and sin (I John 1:9) when we are serious about obeying, but isn’t it about time to get back to your “first love?”

What does it take to be “ready?” Doing those things faithfully (all of them) that the Bible teaches and doing it out of love for Him. This means no picking and choosing to do only those things that are easy or pleasant. If you really love Him, you will not think it a problem to obey Him: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1John 5:3).

In some ways, everyone reaps what they sow in this life – but because the duration of those rewards is eternal, the stakes are much greater. Paul wrote the above text verse to believers that needed encouragement. c needed reminding that there is a great payday coming for those who continue to be faithful to the Lord and His Word. 

Today, many believers are at a crossroads regarding losing their rewards because so many have stopped being faithful and have dropped out of church. It is easy to do this when you get your eyes on this world and forget what God has promised to the faithful, as well as what Christ has done for you. 

 Although the born-again believer will not face his or her sin at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the promised rewards will be based on the faithfulness of service and obedience. By grace, each believer is given an individualized course to follow and spiritual gifts to use in their place of service. 

In the Bible, salvation is never given as a reward, but as a gift (Eph. 2:8,9). After salvation, believers need to be careful of how they serve because rich rewards are waiting for faithful service. The important thing to remember is that God sees the heart, and He understands the motivation of our service.

The Lord Jesus warned His disciples that it is possible to get to Heaven but have no rewards. In Matthew 6:1, Jesus said: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” The Apostle John also warns that it is possible to lose rewards. In II John 1:8, he said: “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.“ The phrase “look to yourselves” means to pay attention to ensure that you are living for the Lord and His will. 

If you want to ensure a rich future in eternity, remember to keep your eyes on Christ as you serve. He is faithful to keep His promises and to keep you. Remember Paul’s words: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor. 15:58).