We are all interested in rewards. And, we all (as Christians) will receive our JUST REWARDS someday. This “Rewards Ceremony” will take place in Heaven before The "Bema Seat Judgment”. Yes, this event is in our future when we have finished our time on Earth and gone to Heaven to be with JESUS CHRIST forever!
This “Bema Seat Judgment" is very different than the "Great White Throne Judgment”. The “Great White Throne Judgment” is reserved for all humans who have REJECTED Jesus Christ while dwelling on this Earth. Those who are found in The Great White Throne Judgment" will spend all Eternity in “The Bottomless Pit" along with the devil and all of his “fallen angels”.
The “Bema Seat Judgment" is for all of us who have chosen Jesus to be our Personal Savior and Lord while living on this Earth in our human bodies. A better name for this event might be an “Awards Ceremony." The name is taken from the ancient Greek Games when the “winners” in the various competitions would stand before the Judges to receive their rewards for winning the competition. So it will be for us. We will be standing there before Jesus Christ to receive our “just rewards" because we have “ALREADY WON THE RACE.” The rewards we receive will be based on how well we have managed what God placed within us or placed in our hands to manage for HIM while we were on this Earth. At this point in time, AS “Children of GOD” we will have WON THE RACE OF LIFE because we chose to place our trust (our Faith) in THE PERSON OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!! We will be standing there to receive our “Prize” (our rewards).
Our Bible states clearly that God has placed within us (at the point of our Creation by GOD while in the womb of our mother) certain talents and abilities to be used for His Glory. During our earthly life, HE also places certain “Pieces of His Creation” (properties - material possessions) IN OUR HANDS FOR US TO MANAGE FOR HIM. This truth is so very important for us to understand. WE OWN NOTHING. EVERTHING BELONGS TO GOD! The Bible clearly states that we are not even “our own." Instead, we are “Bought with a Price." This Price was (and is) the PAYMENT THAT JESUS CHRIST MADE ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY TO PAY FOR ALL SIN, FOR ALL MANKIND, FOR ALL TIME."
JESUS gave us a lesson in this “handling” of what GOD places in our care. In Matthew 25:14-28 we read these Words of JESUS regarding “Talents” handed out to HIS Servants. Parable of the Talents: 14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money”. 19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' 21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave.You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” 22 "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' 23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' 26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 'then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents." (NASU)
The lesson that JESUS gives us in this Parable is very clear. GOD places certain talents and possessions in our CARE – (MANAGEMENT) and HE fully expects us to MANAGE these for HIS GLORY AND OUR GOOD. (We often refer to this as “Stewardship”). REMEMBER, HE WILL HOLD US RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH WE HAVE “MANAGED” THEM!! We need to understand this and live our lives keeping this truth in mind every day! SOMEDAY WE WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE MANNER IN, WHICH WE HAVE “MANAGED” ALL THAT GOD HAS PLACED IN OUR CARE DURING THE TIME THAT WE HAVE LIVED HERE ON EARTH!!
In the Bible’s reference to the Bema Seat Judgment (our “Rewards Ceremony”) we read in 1 Corinthians 3:8-17, 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (NASU) Clearly, we will receive rewards based on how well we have managed what GOD has placed in our “CARE”.
Note that verse 15 makes it clear that some have “managed” poorly that which GOD has placed in their care. Such individuals will “suffer loss” in their “Rewards” yet they will still be saved! Remember, Salvation is a result of GOD’s GRACE and comes to us through our Faith (our Believing in JESUS AND accepting JESUS CHRIST as our Personal Savior and Lord). Our Salvation has nothing to do with our “works”. It is all GOD’S WORK!!
The Bible speaks of “FIVE CROWNS” that will be awarded in HEAVEN. These are The Crown of “VICTORY” (I Corinthians 9:25-27), The Crown of “REJOICING” (I Thessalonians 2:19), The Crown of “LIFE” (James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10), and The Crown of “GLORY” (I Peter 5:4).
Yes, someday in Heaven we all will stand before the “BEMA SEAT JUDGMENT” WHERE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF WILL “HAND OUT” REWARDS TO ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN. Each one of us need to consider what our rewards may actually be and proceed to live our earthly life with this fact in mind!! There is an Eternity ahead for all of us!!
There is a “secret" to Living our Lives in The WILL OF GOD that many seem to miss! This “secret” involves how we deal with The Presence of The Holy Spirit Living within us! Many seem to “shut off" The Holy Spirit and thus prevent Him working effectively in their daily lives. When we do not allow the Holy Spirit freedom to do THE WORKS OF GOD within us we “Grieve” and/or “Quench” The Holy Spirit and thus prevent HIS WORK from being done within us and through us! In other words, we prevent GOD’S WILL FROM BEING DONE WITHIN US AND THROUGH US. This may very well be done unintentionally on our part. It happens when we fail to completely yield to THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST IN OUR LIVES.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS WITHIN US AND THROUGH US ONLY AS WE SUBMIT TO HIM! HE WILL NOT FORCE HIMSELF ON US AND HE WILL NOT DO GOD’S WORK IN US UNLESS WE VOLUNTARILY YIELD TO HIM. We read in Romans 12:1-2 the following instruction, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable toGod, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (NASU) We are to yield ourselves to THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST and this voluntary action on our part enables THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FREELY DO GOD’S WORK WITHIN US AND THROUGH US!
When we succeed in completely submitting ourselves to THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST we become free to relax and rest in the HAND OF GOD, OUR FATHER AS JESUS STATED IN JOHN 10:27-30. here we read, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 " My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 " I and the Father are one." (NASU)
THERE IS AN ETERNITY WAITING FOR EACH ONE OF US! LET’S BE SURE THAT WE PREPARE FOR IT!
PASTOR GIL HAMMOND, (09-09-2024) (See Attached Scriptures)
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES:
Matthew 5:12; 6:19-21; 16:27; 25:21