We are living in a culture today in which many are being influenced to desire a government-controlled economy where everyone experiences equity, or an equal outcome. Their goal is for everyone to receive the very same payment and benefits. For many, this desire is based upon the expectation that in heaven everyone will be equal without any differences. So, why not work to have the values of heaven here on earth? If God is for complete equity, shouldn’t we also be for it?
When it comes to getting to heaven every one of us is in the same dilemma. We are all sinners who have rebelled against a Holy God. It is only by His mercy and grace that we are given the gift of eternal life when we believe in Jesus Christ, and His death on the cross for us, for the payment of our sin penalty. In that, we are all equal. None of us deserve God’s forgiveness. All of us can receive His forgiveness purely by God’s mercy and grace.
But would it be just for every believer to have the same experience in eternity future? Sam believed in Jesus Christ for eternal life as a child. As a young teenager Sam felt God’s call to serve Him on the mission field. So, Sam used his time, money and energy to prepare accordingly. He sacrificed by giving up the comforts of home, friends and a certain amount of the benefits of civilization to teach God’s Word in a foreign country. He worked to raise the necessary financial support, made the necessary long trips back and forth, learned a new language and adapted to a foreign culture so that He could communicate God’s love to people. While some responded positively and became children of God, others rejected the message of God’s love and became increasingly hostile to Sam. In the end Sam was killed as a martyr for Jesus Christ. Sam’s entire life was dedicated to serving God and communicating His love to others.
Bill, on the other hand, rejected the gospel message as a teenager and decided to get for himself all this world had to offer. He cheated his way through school and into a career which paid him well enough that he could enjoy life’s best. He dealt in illegal drugs, abused women and children, and caused heartache in the lives of many others. Bill was fatally wounded by the husband of the woman Bill had murdered. As Bill lay dying on his death bed, he realized he was unprepared to face a Holy God. Bill asked to hear the message of the gospel and then responded to it by believing in Jesus Christ for eternal life. When Bill died that night, he went to heaven only by God’s mercy and grace, just like every other person in heaven. Eternal life is a free gift given to undeserving sinners.
God is perfectly just in extending His mercy, grace and forgiveness to both Sam and Bill as they both deserved hell as a punishment for their sin, but trusted Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as the payment for their sin. Both Sam and Bill received eternal life the same way. In that they are equal.
But, would it be just for both Sam and Bill to enjoy their eternal life in equity, to the same degree? Is there no benefit for spending one’s life serving the God who saved you? Does God not reward those who sacrificially serve Him?
Amazingly, many Christian believers do not understand, or even deny, the Bible’s teaching on eternal rewards for sacrificial service to God in this life. That is why it is so important that we study and understand the emphasis in the God’s Word on this important subject of eternal rewards. How we serve Jesus Christ in this life does have a huge effect on how we will be able to enjoy eternity.