"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body …" (2 Cor. 5:10).
Ask yourself this question: “Do I earnestly live to please the Lord?” Whatever your answer, Paul expounds on two motivations to please Christ. First of all, if you really look forward to being with Him in heaven, if this is your greatest hope, then you can’t help but want to please Him now. First John 3:3 says, “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
The second motivation has to do with judgment. Paul says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” This statement, however, presents a problem. Aren’t only unbelievers judged? How can Paul say that Christians all will appear before the tribunal of God? While it is true that Christians are saved from the condemning judgment of God, they will still be judged according to their works. This does not mean that Christians earn any kind of merit for the things they have done, for to receive merit is to receive something that you deserve. Your works, therefore, are rewarded according to God’s grace. Calvin explained it this way, “evil deeds are punished by God, so also good deeds are rewarded, but for a different reason; for evil deeds are requited with the punishment they deserve, but God in rewarding good deeds does not look to merit or worthiness. For no work is so full and complete in all its parts as to be deservedly well-pleasing to Him, and farther, there is no one whose works are in themselves well-pleasing to God, unless he render satisfaction to the whole law.… After He has received us into favor, He receives our works also by a gracious acceptance. It is on this that the reward hinges. There is, therefore, no inconsistency in saying, that He rewards good works, provided we understand that mankind nevertheless, obtain eternal life gratuitously.”
Does this mean some people will be happier in heaven than others? No, of course not. All Christians will exist in a state of righteousness before the glory of God. But, still, some will receive greater blessedness than others. Even though our works are not meritorious, we are motivated to please the Lord in this life so that we might be rewarded abundantly as good and faithful servants.
Read Matthew 16:24–27; 25:14–30. Why are rewards a legitimate motivation to serve God? Is it for the sake of the reward itself or ultimately to please God? Think about today’s question: “Do you live to please Christ?”
