Do you struggle with a fear of losing rewards?
Someone asked this question in a discussion group I manage:
“I’ve always grappled with the reality of rewards in heaven, or rather, their loss. For me, the loss of rewards is extremely terrifying because I know I fall short all the time. It’s as though losing rewards in eternity would be worse than losing salvation. Is there any wisdom or insight anyone can provide in light of this fear?”
Some people discover Free Grace after being beaten up by the fears, insecurities, and doubts created by Lordship Salvation.
When Lordship Salvation and works salvation preachers say to base your hopes and assurance of salvation on your behavior, it can cause problems. You can begin examining your life for signs that you’re such a good person that only something supernatural explains it. However, that’s probably not what you’ll see. Everyone is a mixed bag of virtues and vices, good choices and sinful ones. The more you try to base your assurance on your own goodness, the more it can create a downward spiral of introspection that leaves you with crippling doubts about whether you’re “really” saved.
If you struggle with perfectionism, neuroticism, and depression, or tend towards obsessive-compulsive thinking, your morbid introspection will be even worse.
For such men and women, Lordship Salvation can be a kind of hell on earth. You understand what I mean if you’ve ever worried about your eternal destiny.
When those folks discover Free Grace, it comes as fantastic news! Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead. His resurrection guarantees that everyone who believes in Him will be raised to life, too (cf. 1 Cor 15:1-5; John 11:23-27). Turning your eyes away from your performance and looking only to Jesus, the way the Israelites looked at the bronze serpent, brings salvation (cf. John 3:14).
However, once you embrace Free Grace, the old fears and insecurities you struggled with under Lordship Salvation can return. But this time, they concern eternal rewards. I have spoken to many people who have had the same fear: Will Jesus kick me out of the wedding supper? Will I be thrown into outer darkness? Will Jesus reject me from ruling? Will He deny me a new name, a white stone, or ban me from eating from the tree of life?
The catastrophizing, the awfulizing, and the repetitive thinking about distressing possibilities all come raging back, but now regarding your eternal rewards.
It is true that unfaithful believers will not collect all the heavenly treasure they could have. Some people will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ. Everyone is a builder and some builders will have their works burned up and “will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Cor 3:15). If you endure in the faith, you’ll reign with Him; if not, He’ll deny you the right to reign: “if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us” (2 Tim 2:12). Not getting all the rewards you could have is a real possibility.
So, what do you do with those fears?
I think it's the same basic answer for all types of morbid introspection—stop looking to yourself look to Jesus.
Jesus loves you. He gave His life for you. He took all your sins upon Himself on the cross, and saves you for free, through simply believing in Him. His resurrection from the dead showed that His payment for sin was accepted, and that He has all power and authority to save you from anything. Walk by faith in Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Don’t focus on losing rewards. Focus on knowing Jesus better, and the rewards will take care of themselves.
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Send your questions or comments to shawn@freegrace.in.
Read his latest book, The Myth of Tithing and the Joy of Grace Giving by getting it from us or from Amazon.
