Rewards in heaven

[Michelle]

some people talk as if our rewards will be more than just making it into heaven...?

[M.C. Steenberg]

Michelle wrote:


some people talk as if our rewards will be more than just making it into heaven...?

These people are probably wise. http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif The phrasing of 'just making it into heaven' makes it sound as if the Kingdom of God is a specific wing of a housing complex, to which one is either given the key or not. But the fathers speak of this Kingdom as the reality of participation in God, of the perfection of human growth and development -- of a new way of being in relation to the creator.

Surely this is something more than 'just making it in'!

INXC, Matthew

[Ken McRae]

Surely this is something more than 'just making it in'!

Three scripture passages came to mind when I read this:-

Matt 6:19-21 "Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through, and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also."

Rom 2:2-11 "For we know that the judgment of God is, according to truth, against them that do such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them who do such things and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and patience and longsuffering? Knowest thou not that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance? But according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up to thyself wrath, against the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God: Who will render to every man according to his works. To them indeed who, according to patience in good work, seek glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life: But to them that are contentious and who obey not the truth but give credit to iniquity, wrath and indignation. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that worketh evil: of the Jew first, and also of the Greek. But glory and honour and peace to every one that worketh good: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For there is no respect of persons with God.

1 Cor 2:9 - "But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard: neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him."

Now, in the first passage, we are exhorted to lay up for ourselves "treasures" in heaven; in other words, to treasure up glory. In the second passage, we are told that the wicked "treasure" up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath. In the third and final passage, we are told that it has not entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for His saints.

It is, at best, only hinted at in the Scriptures. For example: "The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) For us to attempt to pry into it any further is unwise. Let us be content that the glory He will manifest in the saints will, of a certainty, exceed all human sufferings combined.

If I might make a confession, though, the wonderous images produced by the Hubble Telescope [>> http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/13/image/c <<] have made me ponder, on more than one occasion, I assure you, if the glory of the "new heaven", hinted at in the Apocalypse, will far exceed the present universe as seen through the Hubble!

[Ken McRae]

... the present universe as seen through the Hubble!

Wonderful Hubble wallpaper @ >> http://hubblesite.org/gallery/wallpaper/+1 <<. Enjoy!

[Scott Pierson]

If I might make a confession, though, the wonderous images produced by the Hubble Telescope [>> http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/new...006/13/image/c <<] have made me ponder, on more than one occasion, I assure you, if the glory of the "new heaven", hinted at in the Apocalypse, will far exceed the present universe as seen through the Hubble!

Wow! those are amazing photos. How some one could see the heavens and still be an atheist is beyond me.