Dear Family and Friends,

“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love,
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.”

My guess is we have all sung these words from a hymn named, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Robert Robinson may have written it centuries ago, but for many of us, the words – prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love – still ring true.

What do I mean by wander?

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”  Luke 9:23 NIV

But let’s be honest, don’t we tend to be more like this? “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;”  Isaiah 53:6 NIV

Let’s spend our time today, not on how to wander (which we also call apathy or complacency), but on the consequences of our wandering.

Why?

Because many of us don’t realize there are consequences to our wandering.

Many of us believe that once we’re saved, that’s it, we made it! When our time comes, we go to Heaven and live an eternal life.

But wait. Paul says there will come a day when, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV

In case you thought Paul’s reference to ‘we’ and ‘each of us’ refers to non-believers, think again. When Paul says we, he means himself, you, me, and everyone else who ever lived.

Are you curious as to what happens when we meet Jesus face to face?

Jesus will judge our words.

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:36-37 NIV

Jesus will judge our deeds.

“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:14 NIV

And Jesus will judge what’s in our hearts.

“It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”  1 Corinthians 4:4-5 NIV

Before we go much further, let me reassure anyone who may be panicking – this is not about your salvation. This is about your reward!

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”   Revelation 22:12 NIV

The Greek word translated into ‘reward’ is misthos. As used here it can mean reward or punishment, again according to what we have done, or may not have done…

Are you curious as to what kind of rewards we can expect? The scriptures give us hints. 

This will be the reward for our life’s works.

“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 

If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 

If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NIV

What is built that can be seen will be temporary. What is built that is unseen will be eternal. (adapted from 2 Corinthians 4:18)

This will be the reward for what we did with our God-given gifts.

“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ NLT

This passage comes from a parable of a noble man who gave money to his servants, asking them to put the money to work until he came back from a trip.

Upon his return, the master learned that one servant had done nothing with the money. So he took it away and gave it to another servant, one who had faithfully obeyed the wishes of the master.

These consequences may seem harsh, but let’s remember that correction, when done out of love, is actually a reward.

For example, whenever Aileen points out that I have food stuck on the side of my mouth, she’s not putting me down. She’s helping me not look my age.

The judgment seat of Christ is not punishment as we understand the word. If viewed from the proper perspective, it’s actually a reward!

The reward is we will experience the fullness of the grace and mercy of God, and the true depth of His love for us.

In love always,