By now you know that the prize Paul sought so fervently was not eternal life. That’s God’s gift to everyone who receives it. No, Paul sought the rewards that come with a life of bold, action-filled faith—the kind of faith that bears fruit.
When we stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat, we will recognize whether we lived as carnal Christians or as the kind of believer that Paul was—faithful, bold, loving, and joyful.
We don’t know on this side of Heaven what that reward will be for each of us, but there are a few illustrations of those who lived all in and received their rewards in Revelation 2 and 3, which is where we will look today.
In Revelation, the Apostle John talks about each church and the believers there. And Jesus speaks to each of these churches.
He starts each address with the statement, “I know your works,” emphasizing that what we do and how we do it is important to Him.
Remember, Jesus is speaking to believers—those who make up the Church. And in Revelation 2 and 3, these believers are rewarded with honor and acknowledgment for their deeds. Christ gives them the prize of running the race of life well.
Let’s take a look at some of the rewards that our Lord specifically mentions in this passage—rewards He longs to give all faithful followers and that should ravish your heart with joyful surrender to His purposes.
The Church in Ephesus: “‘To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7b).’”
The Church is Smyrna: “‘The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death (Revelation 2:11b).’”
The Church in Pergamum: “‘To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it (Revelation 2:17b).’”
The Church in Thyatira: “‘To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations ... (Revelation 2:26).’”
The Church in Sardis: “‘The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels (Revelation 3:5).’”
The Church in Philadelphia: “‘The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name (Revelation 3:12).’”
The Church in Laodicea: “‘To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne (Revelation 3:21).’”
So my brothers and sisters, let us respond in determined obedience to our Lord’s call on our lives.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” -1 Corinthians 9:24-27, emphasis added
Let’s run together.
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FaithJohn Maisel
John's travels for ministry behind the Iron Curtain led him to found East-West Ministries International in 1993. John and his wife, Susie, live in Dallas, Texas and have a grown daughter and two grandchildren.