He is a Rewarder!

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6 ESV).

I've been thinking about my last post today--just thinking about the implications of my absolute belief in God, and the above passage sprang into my mind. Not only do I believe in "a" God, but I believe in a God "of a certain nature." I believe in a rewarder-God!

That makes me smile just writing it. The God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ and given us the Bible as testimony delivers us some pretty basic stuff in Hebrews 11:6, but also profound. Of course if you want to come to God you have to believe that he exists! But, to be drawn into relationship with him you have to believe that he wants you--that he wants to reward you for working hard to seek him.

More than ever before, these days, people are asking the "So what?" about Christianity. Why be a Christian? Why come to God? Well, there are a lot of reasons, and that's the eternal understatement! One sure reason is that God wants to reward you for seeking him. Think about these passages...

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV).

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven..."(Matthew 5:12 ESV).

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV).

"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay" (Hebrews 10:35-37 ESV).

And there are many more.