A LIFE GOD REWARDS  : THE BEMA JUDGEMENT
 
 
For we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in
the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad  =    2 Corinthians 5:10
 
We shall all stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ - each of us shall give accounting   Romans 14:10-12
 
 
The bible makes it very clear that every believer will have an appointment before Jesus Christ at the Bema Judgement Seat where their lives will be reviewed and their works tested by the fire. Will your works endure the firey test, here are three areas every believer will want to look at in considering their works motives
 
 
1. The Test of Relationship :  it might relieve you to know that a life God rewards is not about performance apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, just the opposite is true. Jesus said unless His followers stay close to Him and obey His commands, they will not bear " much fruit " for Him - " for without Me you can do nothing "  (John 15:5)
 
2. The Test of Motive  :  Jesus said , " Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven " (Matthew 6:1)  What should be our motive ? To serve God and bring Him glory. Even ordinary actions like eating and drinking can bring God glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31)  By contrast, our most "religious" action is worthless if our motive is to build up our own egos or reputations
 
3. The Test of Love :  true works are always focused on sincerely trying to improve the well-being of another. Jesus said , " love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great , and you will be sons of the Most High " ( Luke 6:35)  In Paul's famous passage on love, he pointed out that without love, good deeds will not benefit the doer. " Though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing "  ( 1 Corthinians 13:3 )
 
 
I know that most Christians spend much of their time being concerned about earthly matters and issues. And yet we will spend much more time in heaven than we ever will on earth. So thinking about earning eternal rewards that will last forever would seem to be a wise and smart move to make. And these eternal rewards that Jesus will hand out at the Bema will have alot to do with what a believer will get to do in heaven. If you served God mightly on earth, you will get to serve Him mightly in heaven. If a believer does nothing with their life on earth to serve God, don't expect to do much service to God in heaven. And yet i believe that the one thing we will most want to do in heaven is to serve God
 
In heaven we will desperately crave to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we finally see our Savior, we will be swept up in a consuming, eternity-long desire to respond in love to Jesus- and worship and praise won't be enough. We will want to do something for Him. Think about it, when you and I love someone with all our heart, words are wonderful and precious, but we are compelled to go beyond words to action. We long to give, to help, to protect, to serve
 
Every believer in Jesus Christ has been commissioned to manage an asset for Him, and that asset is your life. The talents, strengths, personality, and interests we each have been given. The opportunity has been given to us to manage our lives in such a way that we will greatly increase our Savior's kingdom. When you stand before Jesus Christ at the Bema, what will you have to show for your life ? What will you bring the Savior ? What have you done to increase the Kingdom of God thru your earthly life ?  The time is soon coming when you will have to answer these questions at the Judgement Seat of Christ !!!