OK, hang with me now as together we intrepidly
dive into the deep waters of God’s matchless Word, which is profitable
for doctrine, reproof, and correction. In this FOD, accompanied by our
Lord Jesus, in whose everlasting arms we dwell, we’ll focus on some
exhortation and encouragement parts, and it might get a bit
uncomfortable. Hey, that’s good, if the “spur” you feel causes you to move forward with The One who died for you. In one sense, I’ll be talking to myself—and
you can listen in. I will include quite a bit of very pertinent
Scripture, so please do not skim over it, but read it carefully,
expecting the Lord to speak to you thereby. In fact, may I suggest that
you read this at least twice.
“Lavish reception” is, in 2 Peter 1:11, how the Berean Study Bible translates what some other versions render as follows: a “rich welcome” (NIV), a “grand entrance”(NLT), a “triumphant admission”
(WNT). Those phrases bring up great mind pictures, don’t they?
Trumpets, banners, a cheering crowd, a beaming Father, a proud Lord, and
a “crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Pet. 5:4).
The above phrases are talking about rewards that can
accompany our salvation and enhance our lives during the Millennial
Kingdom. God’s Word has A LOT to say about rewards, and it is clear that
the Apostle Paul was very focused on earning all he could during his
service to the Lord. Scripture is not specific about what our rewards
will be or how the Lord will administer them, but suffice it to say,
given what we know about our God, they will be beyond our wildest
dreams. Here are a few verses to consider:
“Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (1 Cor. 3:8). “If anyone’s work that he has built endures, he will receive a reward (1 Cor. 3:14). “Let no one cheat you of your reward…”
(Col. 2:18a). “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and
not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ (Col. 3:23-24). “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward (2 John:8).
God makes it clear that we should want to live our lives for Him so as
to fill up our “RAP(ture) Sheet” with plenty of good works. So, in
context, what does He say we can do to secure such a “lavish reception”
into the kingdom?
2 Peter 1:1-11
1Simon
Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the
righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith
as precious as ours: 2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductivein your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effortto confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11and you will receive A RICH WELCOME into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What an exhortation! First, it is clear that theknowledge of God and of Christ and their promises
is an indispensable element in the above equation. You and I have
surely been blessed with a great treasure of biblical knowledge, BUT we
must apply it so as not to be “ineffective and unproductive” in
our knowledge. Some time ago I heard a radio preacher say, “Spiritual
growth comes from prioritizing the APPLICATION of Truth, not just
knowing it.” We fool ourselves when we assume that just because we have
heard the truth, we have internalized it. The proof of that is our acting accordingly in our daily lives, and living Truth as Jesus did.
In that vein, let’s review some familiar verses: “This Book of the Law
shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and
night, that you may observe to do according to all that
is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then
you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). “Everyone who hears these
words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24). “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17).
And a classic section: ”Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow
of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is
able to save your souls. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do
what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and,
after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he
looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:21-25). And it is LOVE that moves us to action.
Lest we be overwhelmed by “all we have to do,” let’s take a breath and
remember what Jesus said about the precious but unnamed woman who
anointed him with costly perfume oil (Mark 14:3-9) and then was
excoriated by the religious hypocrites looking on. After telling them to
knock it off, he said, “She did what she could.” How
about you and me? Can we do what we can? Duh. And that will look very
different for each one of us, depending upon what ministry in the Body
we have—and, as I trust you know, we do each have one. And when you
“step out of the boat,” the Lord Jesus will provide the power for you to
“walk on water.” If you don’t, he can’t.
The following verses show us the heart of our Lord, as expressed by
Paul, who also longed for each member of the Body to maximize his
spiritual potential, both in this life and in the next.
Colossians 1:24-29
24Now
I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh
what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of
his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of Godin its fullness— 26the Secret that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27To
them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious
riches of this Secret, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28He is the one we proclaim, admonishingand teaching everyone with all wisdom,so that we may present everyone fully maturein Christ. 29To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Hang on now, because logically and biblically it makes sense that if how
we live our lives can result in a “lavish reception” at the coming of
our Lord for us, then how we live could also result in something less
than that—fewer rewards. As such, consider this sobering verse: “And
now, little children, abide in him, that when he appears, we may have
confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming
(1 John 2:28). And what is “shame”? One dictionary says: “the painful
feeling arising from the consciousness of having done something
dishonorable [or having not done something honorable].”
WHAT?! Are you telling me that on the glorious day that the Lord Jesus comes to rescue us from this present evil age, I could feel ashamed?
Before you start braiding a noose for yourself, chill out and remember
that God is love, and that everything He does is totally loving. 1 John
1:9 tells us that whatever sin we now repent of is wiped off our RAP
Sheet, never again to be brought up. But God’s pure love requires
justice, and justice requires judgment, with an appropriate reward or
penalty. Thus it simply cannot be that a Christian who willfully sins
without repenting of it will never be held accountable for so doing, and
receive the same reward that a committed believer receives. So lets
live honestly before the Lord in “day tight compartments” and clean our
slate as often as necessary.
When Jesus shows up, we will each have a new body and a perfectly
(re)new(ed) mind, and, as I see it, we will be able to receive God’s
judgment with both genuine humility and thankfulness to Him.
Furthermore, I think any realization that we “coulda, shoulda” will
quickly fade into insignificance as we experience the unimaginable joy
of being enveloped in God’s love. The good news is that we CAN properly
orient our hearts today and so live as to rejoice in the Hope of his
coming and in the anticipation of our rewards. These verses can help us:
Hebrews 10:19-25
19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart
and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts
sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies
washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Looks like a big key to spiritual success is forming good habits,
which one dictionary defines as: “an acquired behavior pattern
regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.” As the above
verses show, Christianity is a team sport, and none of us can maximize our spiritual potential by ourselves. With whom are you participating in stimulating Christian koinonia?
So what is it that YOU CAN DO that you are not doing? Perhaps it is
something God has already encouraged you to do. Why not write down an
action plan as a result of what you are reading here? Be sure it is
personal, practical, and provable. Let us live today in light of
tomorrow. Let us think FOREVER while now living in the moment—as the
following verses exhort us:
Hebrews 11:24-27
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He
regarded disgrace for the sake of [the Messiah] as of greater value
than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his
reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
Titus 2:11-14
11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who
gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for
himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
See you at the Bema! I look forward to applauding your service to our
Lord. I love you. And I hope you can tune in tomorrow night for our
monthly “WWF” fellowship. My teaching is titled God & Son, Inc., and
it’s a winner!
