THE LAST CHURCH 4

Lastly, we will look at the matter of the rewards.

We will be quick to note a recurring decimal in all the letters to the churches as regards the rewards-

"...to him that overcomes..." Rewards are for those who are be able to overcome their shortfalls as pointed out by the Lord. Remember, the obstacle to overcome here in Laodicean church is the matter of not realizing their true state. How difficult can that be? Oh yes, by his grace we are more than overcomers we would say. One issue with grace is not in its availability but in it abuse, misuse or frustration. In Galatian 2:21 Paul said, "I do not frustrate the grace of God. This is what the church does these days- they set aside, make void, repudiate, reject the grace despite its abundance.

The reward promised to those that overcome, a most desired and sought out reward even right from the times of the first disciples.This is an indication of it being the highest honour any christian can attain and also how difficult this overcoming for the Laodicean church might be (I speak as a man) -

."..To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne…’

The sons of Zebedee desired this coveted place by making a special request to the Lord for it. The Message version puts their request thus: "Arrange it", they said, "so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory- one of us at your right, the other at yourl left." Jesus responded " it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared"

Does the Lord now rewards based on those that works the hardest or faces the most difficult of trials and obstacle. If we view, from the human stand point, we would give much honor and rewards to those who had worked hard and faced the toughest of times. Surely there is nothing wrong with that, but if we view from the Spirit standpoint, the highest of honor will not be for the strong neither for the swift it will definitely not be for those that worked the longest but for those who can maximize the much abounding graces of these times.  

In the parable of the three servant and the talents in  Matthew 25:14-30, we see the one who received the most and utilized the graces (talents) getting the greater rewards. The differing graces were given based on their abilities to receive. It was not that the master of the house did not have enough to have given all the servant equal graces but what differentiated the servant was their abilities..[ In fact, Luke's rendering of this parable said each servant got equal amount of ten pounds each].

Another parable that depicts the Kingdom reward system is the parable of the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16. Those who were hired in the early hours of the day received the same reward as those who were hired even at the last hour. Of course from the human standpoint, it is injustice for someone who had been working for about 12 hours to be receiving the same wage as those who worked for only an hour. Hence the murmurings and grumbling of those that expected a higher pay for their "meritorious service"  Kingdom evaluations are quite different and more often than not opposite to human evaluations but we must believe that there can never be any injustices with God.

Friends, we must admit, things are quite different in the Church and in the world today. What used to be heinous and unimaginable some years back has now become the norm. Sin seems to be prevalent and the temptations are becoming insurmountable. We are becoming more insensitive and our perceptions duller by the day. "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." I pray we will receive mercy and find grace to help in our times of need.