Where's That Reward?

“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Revelation 22:7, 12-13

Jesus does not speak a lot in the Book of Revelation.  He says that He sent His angel to give this testimony for the churches (Rev. 22:16).  Here in Revelation 22, however, Jesus does speak.  What does He say?  We’re all listening!

• He is coming soon! (Three times He says this.)
• Blessing for those who are listening and responding to this Gospel.
• He is coming soon and His reward is with Him.
• Outside of His Presence and blessing will be the magicians, those who sin sexually, murderers, idolaters and all who enjoy and practice falsehood.

Living for Jesus means responding to and living out the Gospel.  It means living a redeemed life on this earth and understanding that our reward isn’t anywhere on the planet.  Oh, there’s plenty to enjoy in God’s creation, but if those things do not compel us to worship, they can easily morph into idols.

Jesus said that His reward was with Him.  I have no reward for living for Christ until I see Him face to face.  I need to not live in such a way that anything on earth seems like a reward.  The blessings that God provides me here are just that – provisions.  They are blessings that I need to count but they are not His reward for me.  That is coming later.

Lord Jesus, I live for You and Your glory.  Thank You for that privilege and for the added blessing of future reward!  You will eternally bless all those who follow You.  Lead me today so that I can follow You more fully.