Life Ministries

     In the parable in Luke 19:11-26…Some of Christ’s servants used what He gave them and were productive Christians. Others were somewhat productive. One was totally unproductive. Those who were the most productive received more authority (rewards) in heaven. They received greater responsibilities than those who were less productive. In the parable, the rewards are described as ruling over cities. Whatever that may mean, it is very clear that some in heaven will be greatly rewarded for faithfulness, while others will be rewarded less, and perhaps for some their reward is being there “with their coattails smoking” as the saying goes! Yet, all will be redeemed because of their common faith in Jesus. Whatever the rewards of heaven consist of, those who possess them will enjoy them for all eternity. Those who lack rewards will experience that lack for all eternity. Think of it. How will you stand in that day? Will you approach Him with confidence or will you stand before Him red-faced and embarrassed over a life of waste and neglect?

It is something that we as Christians will all have to do.

    There are a lot of people building haystacks, and everybody hears about what they are doing and how wonderful they are. The haystacks are going to be tested some day, and then there won’t be one haystack left, because the testing is going to be by fire. The same thing will be true of works of wood or stubble. When the motive is love and nothing else, there will be great reward!   

    From the Book of Revelation 20:12: “And I saw the dead, great and small, (Non-Christians) standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead (those who died without faith in Christ) were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” And, Revelation 20:13; “The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged  according to what they had done.”

    In other words, all are judged according to their faith or their lack of it! But, the Word says “blessed are those who have part in the first resurrection, for the second death has no power over them!” In one of my other books I have said that we can be “born once and die twice, or we can be born twice and die once!”

Now, listen to the rest of Revelation 20 verse 14; “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire; the lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

    So, Paul says in Romans 8:1 – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” This is where our peace and our hope come from! God is a righteous judge who judges all men rightfully; to those who believe, according to their faith – and to those who do not believe, according to the Law.