Our Ultimate Reward
“After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Fear not, Abram. I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.’”
I have a question for you today: What is the Christian’s ultimate reward?
Is it Heaven? A mansion? A crown? The great marriage banquet?
Recently in a Hebrew class I was taking (and struggling in), we were given an assignment to examine one little verse in the book of Genesis: Genesis 15:6.which reads, "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness" (NKJV).
In reading the passage in context and examining it in the original Hebrew language, the story of Abram/Abraham came alive to me in a new way. It is a picture of
God’s redeeming love for all humanity. Though Abram failed to understand fully (in Genesis 15:1) God’s promise, that He was Abram’s shield and exceeding great reward, God lovingly wooed him outside into the expansive night sky. It is here God revealed Himself to Abram with stars innumerable in the heavens. God wasn’t dismissive of Abram’s desire for an heir, and He didn’t grow impatient. In His omniscience, God saw Abram’s heart and the way to reach him, as He does with each and every one of us. God allowed the glory of His creation to demonstrate the promise to Abram. It was something he could clearly see.
It is this place of faith we must all demonstrate, that Jesus is Rabboni, the Great Master, as Mary said outside the tomb (John 20:16 ESV). He is the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46 KJV). It is this faith in Jesus as the exceeding great reward in and of Himself that cancels sin, breaks addiction, heals the brokenhearted, refuses conformity to the culture, gives hope to the hopeless, loves the unlovable, willingly places Isaac upon the altar, and completes one’s joy regardless of circumstance. Heaven will be wonderful and a crown of glory delightful, but it is God, Himself, who is our greatest reward. And we can enjoy Him here and now.
Step out into the night sky when the clouds are at bay. Allow Him to show Himself to you.
"He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready" (Luke 12:38).
It is this place of faith we must all demonstrate, that Jesus is Rabboni, the Great Master, as Mary said outside the tomb (John 20:16 ESV). He is the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46 KJV). It is this faith in Jesus as the exceeding great reward in and of Himself that cancels sin, breaks addiction, heals the brokenhearted, refuses conformity to the culture, gives hope to the hopeless, loves the unlovable, willingly places Isaac upon the altar, and completes one’s joy regardless of circumstance. Heaven will be wonderful and a crown of glory delightful, but it is God, Himself, who is our greatest reward. And we can enjoy Him here and now.
Step out into the night sky when the clouds are at bay. Allow Him to show Himself to you.
"He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready" (Luke 12:38).
Are you ready?
Goodnight, Runner.
Goodnight, Runner.
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