Sometimes in the stresses and strains of life and ministry, we may forget this. God is a rewarder of those who seek after, search for and desire Him. Meditate for the next few moments on Hebrews 11:6 (New King James Version): “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The English Standard Version puts it: “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.” (By the way the Greek word translated rewarder is actually a noun: “and to the ones seeking Him out He becomes a rewarder” is closest to the original Greek text.) Our job is to believe this and base our lives, our priorities, our actions, our choices on this reality.
Especially in the western world, there is so much indoctrination that tries to deny (by explaining away though the misuse of science) the existence of God—though God’s existence is obvious from the very creation itself! (See Romans 1:18-20). It is really rather shocking when you think about how much effort is put into denying the obvious—that God exists. What clear evidence for the fallen condition of man and the work of the evil one!
The next trap that human beings fall into because of their fallen natures and the work of the devil is to mistrust God—to believe lies about God. Such lies can only be exposed and refuted by the truth about God found in Holy Scripture and imparted to us through the Holy Spirit as we seek to know God and His true character.
Just yesterday I was reading a passage from “The Weight of Glory” by C.S. Lewis that shed light on this issue of reward. Here is what Lewis wrote: “The New Testament has lots to say about self-denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself. We are told to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses in order that we may follow Christ; and nearly every description of what we shall ultimately find when we do so contains an appeal to desire. If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is promised to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
How relevant are Lewis’ words in our approach to this season of Lent and to our daily walk with the Lord! God rewards us in so many ways in this life and the next but the ultimate reward both now and eternally is God Himself. “After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1-3 (New International Version, ©2011). (You may want to check out how much the Scriptures speak of reward by going on http://www.biblegateway.com and typing in the word “reward”.)
In this Lenten season of the Father’s Love, have faith that God rewards your seeking Him and His will and His ways. No-one but Jesus sought God perfectly, fully and always. When we seek God, God will reveal Jesus to us. Through Jesus and by the enabling of the Holy Spirit we will receive grace and encouragement to keep seeking. God rewards our every attempt and encourages us to renew our faith daily in this truth that “He rewards those who seek Him.”
[You might want to go on youtube and listen to a recording of “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”. This song helps us to recall our recent memory verse from Matthew 6:33 (ESV): “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you”.]
