“The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.” Revelation 11:18
Workers expect to be able to get rewarded for their hard work. That reward does not always come immediately. It may be once a year when the boss does something for their work. Having hope of some reward gives one strength to keep working hard, even in times of difficulties.
John sees a vision of some elders in the future worshipping God. They are saying that God is pouring out His wrath upon the nations and is judging the dead. God is also rewarding those who fear Him and are His servants.
People want to be rewarded immediately. Rewards cannot come fast enough, and everyone feels that they deserve an award. Seldom do people do what is needed to earn the reward.
The world is focused on getting their reward and pleasure immediately. God is ignored and they refuse to become one of His servants so that there is coming a day of judgement in which they will be rewarded for their sin–judgement of death.
Believers work at being God’s servant to Him and for Him. In the moment all that is often felt is pain and suffering for Christ. Rewards appear to be non-existent.
Hope and faith in Christ return is the beginning of the believer’s reward. When Jesus returns the believer will be rewarded for all the work done as His servant in this life. That reward will not be temporary like the rewards of the world, but will be eternal. It will be worth all the hard service done for God.
Serving God comes with some pain and suffering at times. It may be easy for you to lose hope and chase after the temporary rewards of this earth. Don’t give up hope, but know that there is coming a day in which God will reward you greatly for your service to Him and for Him. God has an eternal reward waiting for you when He calls you home or when He returns. That reward will far outweigh anything that this temporary and fallen earth can ever provide you.
Will God be able to reward you for being His servant?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will serve God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength; that you will have hope in God’s reward coming to you some day; that you will chase after God and not the things of this world; and that God will give you strength to keep serving Him.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
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