The Saints' Reward

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1863

The Saints' Reward.

AND, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev. xxii, 12.

In briefly commenting upon this text we will notice the following points:

1. These are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the entire book is the "Revelation of Jesus Christ." Chap. i, 1.

2. The expression, "I come quickly," probably marks the period from the time probation closes, as described in verse 11, to the second advent.

3. The declaration, "and my reward is with me," shows that the saints' reward is not given at death, but at the second appearing of Christ.

4. The saints will receive reward according to their works in this life. A short life of well-doing, attended with light afflictions, will meet the reward of a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, to be given at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Then the Master will say, Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

The fact that the future reward will be according to good works in this life, does not in the least set aside the benefits of faith. The apostle says, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works. Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." James ii, 18. Faith cannot take the place of works, neither can works supply the place of faith. They go side by side. They must agree, and in the well-instructed, genuine Christian, they do agree. The amount of faith any man has is shown by his works. If his works are good and abundant, he demonstrates that he has a large amount of genuine faith. If a man professes much faith, and does not sustain his profession by good works, he gives the best of proof that he is either a hypocrite, or a blind fanatic. The man who flatters himself that he will come in possession of all the joys of everlasting life by faith only, soon becomes a fanatic. Talk to him of doing all the commandments of God, and probably he will tell you that he will when he feels it his duty to do so. And he who hopes to reap the reward of the righteous by his works alone, becomes self-righteous, and is in danger of rejecting the means of salvation through Christ.

Genuine faith, which always brings the sustaining power and comfort of the holy Spirit, is necessary to a life of good works. Well-doing, which meets the reward of eternal glory in the kingdom of God, is but the result of true faith; hence when we read the many sacred promises of the saints' reward according to their works, we understand that faith, which is indispensably necessary to the performance of good works, is understood.

But before leaving this subject it may be profitable to make a close application of it to every-day life. Reader, if you are to be rewarded according to your works, how great a reward will yours be? As perhaps we may indulge in some little calculation upon the comparative degrees of reward which different persons may receive, we will divide the church into three classes:

1. Those who do the works of Christ and thus show themselves Christ-like. They take no other pattern. They seek for truth and duty as for hid treasure, and pursue them joyfully for the truth's and Christ's sake. They are ever ready to bear burdens and lift at the wheel of the cause of Christianity and humanity in and out of meeting. These are laborers, workers, and when the portion of the saints shall be given, great will be the reward of this class.

2. Here we get up an imaginary class, those who do neither good nor evil. We say imaginary, because the Lord says, He that is not for me is against me. But there seems to be such a class; those who feel no weight of the cause, no burden for souls. Their care does not reach beyond dear self. They are peaceable and quiet, and very kind and happy unless they are called upon to help even where help is needed. What they have done has been for the special benefit of beloved self. When they look back upon life to see where they have imitated Him who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might become rich, they can find no such good works in their history. And when the books in heaven shall be opened, and a careful search be made for the record of such works, none can be found. And when the reward shall be given every man according as his work shall be, there will be none for this class unless they reform and become like the first. If they remain where they now are, we would not give a three-cent postage-stamp for their entire interest in the kingdom of God.

3. The state of the third class is still worse. They are not only of no use to the church, but are a burden. They have to be carried upon the shoulders of the first class, and their influence is often against the truth. Murmuring, jealousy, fault-finding, and complaining against the first class for trying to do them good, is often their crime. Their condition is a fearful one. May God pity them, and give them a heart to repent and reform, and be of the first class, that when the Lord comes to reward the saints, every one as their works appear in books soon to be opened, they may receive the reward of well-doing.

It is not too late for wrongs to be righted. The fountain is still open for washing from sin and uncleanness. The plan for saving men from sin is ample. Let the half-hearted and lukewarm come fully to Christ, love instruction and correction, and to suffer for Christ's sake, and the waters of salvation, in all their gushing fullness, will flow over them, their vile natures will be changed, they will receive a moral fitness for the coming glories of the kingdom of God.

But many of the second and third classes will never come fully to Christ. They are asleep to their condition, and will be offended when corrected and reproved. In love and pity we should do all we can to save them, but never should be dragged down from the high position of right action by their course. The lot of the faithful is to cheerfully labor on, toil on, suffer on, till the reward be given.