READ: 1
TIMOTHY 4:9-11
Apart
from earning big time into your Heavenly account through soul winning and
martyrdom, you can earn middle class rewards for certain investments. These are
also great rewards but do not command the reward of the earlier mentioned. It
is like receiving some hundreds of thousands of heavenly dollars as reward. One
way to receive such is by partaking in Christ’s sufferings through persecution.
In Matthew 5: 10-12, Jesus says when people gang up to fight against you,or
plan to unseat you, or tell all kinds of lies against you because of your faith
in Christ, you should not only rejoice but begin to celebrate the credit that
has been deposited into your heavenly account. Why is it that Christians either
start weeping or think of how to fight back at their persecutors? It is sheer
ignorance. Today, many have turned their persecutors into enemies and are
calling Holy Ghost fire to devour them. It is because they do not know better.
Those persecutors should be seen in their true light. They are the avenues for
you to demonstrate your faith in Christ. They are also candidates of salvation
– many of us were converted by the very people we once persecuted. Apart from
this they generated the transaction that has loaded our heavenly accounts,
hence Jesus says it calls for celebration. If someone comes to you with a
blessing through which you made some millions of dollars, will you fight him or
pray for him to die? If no, why do you block your source of eternal increase by
asking your persecutor to die?
Another way of earning very well into your account is by going through a trial of faith like Job. James 1:12 says enduring such a trial successfully will automatically qualify you for the crown of life. It’s only kings who wear crowns. The more the crowns, the bigger your level of kingship. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” You might go through your trial of faith in one area. It could just be in the area of childlessness. Or poverty. Or loss in an area. It could also be an all-round trial (Psalm 71:20-21). Whatever shape it may take, God expects you to go through it with joy. The trial is not forever. It may be for a month, a year or several years. But it is not forever. It shall end. Handle it with care, thanksgiving and prayer. Ask the Lord to teach you His purpose for allowing you to go through it. Ask Him to help bring out the gold in you. Your reward is great. It is an opportunity to celebrate, not to sorrow.
Another way of earning very well into your account is by going through a trial of faith like Job. James 1:12 says enduring such a trial successfully will automatically qualify you for the crown of life. It’s only kings who wear crowns. The more the crowns, the bigger your level of kingship. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” You might go through your trial of faith in one area. It could just be in the area of childlessness. Or poverty. Or loss in an area. It could also be an all-round trial (Psalm 71:20-21). Whatever shape it may take, God expects you to go through it with joy. The trial is not forever. It may be for a month, a year or several years. But it is not forever. It shall end. Handle it with care, thanksgiving and prayer. Ask the Lord to teach you His purpose for allowing you to go through it. Ask Him to help bring out the gold in you. Your reward is great. It is an opportunity to celebrate, not to sorrow.
MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 11:25 –Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
