Facing Your Final Job Review - Back to the Bible
Facing Your Final Job Review - Back to the Bible
Facing Your Final Job Review - Back to the Bible
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<strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> Radio Transcript<br />
Series: <strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong> (Week 1 of 3)<br />
Program Title: <strong>Facing</strong> <strong>the</strong> Great <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Dr. Woodrow Kroll<br />
April 1, 2011<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Eternal rewards. Do we ignore <strong>the</strong>m or look forward <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>m?<br />
Tami Weissert: We'll settle that debate as we go <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Stay with us, won't you? Hi, I'm Woodrow Kroll.<br />
Tami Weissert: I'm Tami Weissert.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: And this is <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Tami Weissert: OK, <strong>to</strong>day we're talking about rewards. And Wood, just so<br />
we get <strong>the</strong> proper perspective, give us a quick review on rewards versus<br />
salvation.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: The big difference is that salvation is a free gift; it cannot<br />
be earned. Rewards on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand are a gracious wage; <strong>the</strong>y must be<br />
earned. Rewards are only earned after a person is saved. You earn your<br />
rewards only for <strong>the</strong> things that you do in service <strong>to</strong> God, things that are<br />
acceptable <strong>to</strong> Him. And before you are saved, <strong>the</strong>re's really nothing you can<br />
do <strong>to</strong> make yourself acceptable <strong>to</strong> God.<br />
Tami Weissert: So no need for guilt, <strong>the</strong>n, when we think or talk about<br />
rewards?<br />
Woodrow Kroll: A little guilt doesn't hurt. We clearly need <strong>to</strong> have <strong>the</strong><br />
proper attitude when we're serving <strong>the</strong> Lord. I think we need <strong>to</strong> double<br />
check our motivations. We need <strong>to</strong> make sure that <strong>the</strong>y're wholesome, that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y're pleasing <strong>to</strong> God. But we never need <strong>to</strong> feel guilty about not doing<br />
things that God has not gifted us <strong>to</strong> do or things that He has not given <strong>the</strong><br />
opportunity <strong>to</strong> do. Our job is <strong>to</strong> take what we have and who we are and<br />
maximize that for <strong>the</strong> glory of God.<br />
Tami Weissert: Wood, you wrote an entire book on this subject. It's called,<br />
like our radio series, <strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong>. As you were working on<br />
this book, were you surprised on how little was written about each one of<br />
our rewards outside of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>?<br />
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Woodrow Kroll: Yes, I was surprised. Actually, I wrote a book on this same<br />
subject way back in <strong>the</strong> late 70s; and at that time <strong>the</strong>re was nothing in print<br />
on this subject. Since that time, not much has been added.<br />
Tami Weissert: Wood, you did a thorough and outstanding job of covering<br />
salvation, eternal rewards, and <strong>the</strong> Judgment Seat of Christ in your book,<br />
<strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong>. And for any of you who would like <strong>to</strong> order it,<br />
you can do that by going <strong>to</strong> our website back<strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong>bible.org or in Canada<br />
back<strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong>bible.ca. Let's begin <strong>to</strong>day's study. Here's Dr. Kroll.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Here's <strong>the</strong> question: Is it right for you and me, as<br />
Christians, even <strong>to</strong> think about eternal rewards? Shouldn't we just serve <strong>the</strong><br />
Lord because we love <strong>the</strong> Lord? Isn't that reason enough <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord?<br />
What I want <strong>to</strong> do <strong>to</strong>day, I want you <strong>to</strong> see how often <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> talks about<br />
payment, how often <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> talks about reward.<br />
By <strong>the</strong> way, in Genesis 15:1 it says, "After <strong>the</strong>se things <strong>the</strong> word of <strong>the</strong><br />
LORD came <strong>to</strong> Abram in a vision, saying, 'Fear not, Abram, I am your shield,<br />
your reward shall be very great.'"<br />
All <strong>the</strong> way back in Genesis 15, <strong>the</strong> whole subject of rewards is already<br />
introduced <strong>to</strong> us.<br />
Let's see some of <strong>the</strong> Old Testament references.<br />
Starting with Ruth 2:12: "The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a<br />
full reward be given you by <strong>the</strong> LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you<br />
have come <strong>to</strong> take refuge."<br />
Notice: ". . . a full reward given you."<br />
Now listen <strong>to</strong> Psalm 19:9-11: "The fear of <strong>the</strong> Lord is clean, enduring<br />
forever; The rules of <strong>the</strong> Lord are true; <strong>the</strong>y are righteous al<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r. More<br />
<strong>to</strong> be desired than gold, even much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and<br />
drippings from <strong>the</strong> honeycomb. Moreover by <strong>the</strong>m <strong>Your</strong> servant is warned;<br />
and in keeping <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>re is great reward."<br />
This verse not only tells us <strong>the</strong>re is reward; it also tells us <strong>the</strong>re must be<br />
degrees of reward as well.<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r Old Testament verse, Isaiah 62:11: "Behold, <strong>the</strong> Lord has<br />
proclaimed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> earth: Say <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> daughter of Zion, 'Behold,<br />
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your salvation comes; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense<br />
before Him.'"<br />
All right, I just read three Old Testament verses about reward. So <strong>the</strong><br />
concept of rewards is not a new concept for us <strong>to</strong>day. The Old Testament<br />
talks about rewards often.<br />
And also <strong>the</strong> New Testament talks about <strong>the</strong>m. Here's Mat<strong>the</strong>w 6:3,4: "But<br />
when you give <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> needy, do not let your left hand know what your right<br />
hand is doing, that your giving may be in secret; and your Fa<strong>the</strong>r who sees<br />
in secret will reward you."<br />
Rewards again in <strong>the</strong> New Testament, Mat<strong>the</strong>w 16:27: "For <strong>the</strong> Son of Man<br />
is going <strong>to</strong> come with His angels in <strong>the</strong> glory of his Fa<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>the</strong>n He will<br />
repay each person according <strong>to</strong> what he has done."<br />
And <strong>the</strong>n Luke 23:40,41: "But <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r rebuked him saying, 'Do you not<br />
fear God, since you are under <strong>the</strong> same sentence of condemnation? And we<br />
indeed justly, for we are receiving <strong>the</strong> due reward of our deeds; but this<br />
man has done nothing wrong.'"<br />
As you can see, <strong>the</strong> concept in <strong>the</strong> New Testament is not much different<br />
from <strong>the</strong> concept in <strong>the</strong> Old Testament. And both Old Testament and New<br />
Testament writers do not back away from talking about rewards.<br />
If <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> doesn't back away from <strong>the</strong> subject, why would we?<br />
First of all, I think we ought <strong>to</strong> talk about rewards because <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> talks<br />
about rewards.<br />
Secondly, it's important for you and me <strong>to</strong> be discussing rewards, whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />
it's here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> or any place else, because it's rewards that<br />
confirm our salvation.<br />
You cannot serve <strong>the</strong> Lord until you are saved. Until you become a servant,<br />
you can't be a servant <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord.<br />
If you've ever listened <strong>to</strong> me on radio, you know that I often talk about<br />
Ephesians 2:8-9. And I always say: You should never quote Ephesians 2:8-9<br />
without verse 10, because 8 and 9 talk about salvation being by faith, but<br />
verse 10 talks about why <strong>the</strong>re is a salvation in <strong>the</strong> first place. And that is,<br />
we are created in Christ Jesus un<strong>to</strong> good works which God has already<br />
ordained that we should walk in <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
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The purpose of my salvation was not just <strong>to</strong> get me <strong>to</strong> heaven. The purpose<br />
of my salvation was <strong>to</strong> create a servant who could serve <strong>the</strong> Lord all my<br />
days here on earth.<br />
Let me read something <strong>to</strong> you from Randy Alcorn about rewards and<br />
eternality. He says, "Somewhere we've gotten <strong>the</strong> erroneous idea that God's<br />
works is a dirty word. This is <strong>to</strong>tally false. While He condemns works done <strong>to</strong><br />
earn salvation, and works done <strong>to</strong> impress o<strong>the</strong>rs, our Lord enthusiastically<br />
commends righteous works done for <strong>the</strong> right reasons."*<br />
God created us <strong>to</strong> do good works. He has a lifetime of good works for each<br />
of us <strong>to</strong> do and will reward us according <strong>to</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r or not we do <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
Indeed, Scripture ties God's reward giving <strong>to</strong> His very character. "God is not<br />
unjust; he will not forget your work and <strong>the</strong> love that you have shown him<br />
as you have helped his people and continue <strong>to</strong> help <strong>the</strong>m." That's Hebrews<br />
6:10.<br />
Rewards are God's way of simply saying, "You've followed through. Good<br />
job. Well done good and faithful servant; enter in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> joy of your Lord."<br />
Rewards are important <strong>to</strong> us because <strong>the</strong>y confirm our salvation. You can't<br />
get rewards unless you do <strong>the</strong> work that <strong>the</strong> Lord gives you after you've<br />
been saved.<br />
Tami Weissert: Dr. Kroll is talking about eternal rewards here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Wood, we've been taught all our lives that as Christians we shouldn't seek<br />
rewards here. So we get that in our mind and <strong>the</strong>n we turn <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> idea of<br />
eternal rewards, and it's hard <strong>to</strong> make that switch or that distinction. Any<br />
way for us <strong>to</strong> balance those two?<br />
Woodrow Kroll: What we've been taught in Sunday school and what we do<br />
in life generally is never <strong>the</strong> same thing. We work for rewards here all <strong>the</strong><br />
time, but we do it in <strong>the</strong> arena of our occupation, not in <strong>the</strong> arena of eternal<br />
salvation. While we have an idea that you cannot work for your salvation<br />
(that's a dirty word, as Randy Alcorn says), once we're saved that's what<br />
we're all about—working for <strong>the</strong> Lord. And if we separate salvation from<br />
rewards, as we've been doing all this week here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>, it's<br />
pretty clear that rewards come post-salvation. Nothing you do prior <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
day you are saved contributes <strong>to</strong> rewards afterwards. But everything you do<br />
afterwards ei<strong>the</strong>r brings about a reward or causes you <strong>to</strong> lose a reward.<br />
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Tami Weissert: Wood, Scripture tells us over and over not <strong>to</strong> reject <strong>the</strong><br />
discipline of <strong>the</strong> Lord. Psalm 13:18 even says that discipline will result in<br />
honor.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: If God loves us, and He does, and He knows <strong>the</strong> things we<br />
do will rob us of reward if He doesn't s<strong>to</strong>p us or correct us, <strong>the</strong>n if He loves<br />
us, He needs <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p us or correct us. And we don't like that. But as <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Bible</strong> says, that may hurt for a short time, but it's going <strong>to</strong> have eternal<br />
benefit <strong>to</strong> us. And that's what doing constant judgment in our lives is all<br />
about.<br />
We have <strong>to</strong> constantly be looking at our lives and saying, Does this please<br />
<strong>the</strong> Lord? You've heard me say this before, I want <strong>to</strong> say it again right now:<br />
We need <strong>to</strong> start every day at <strong>the</strong> Judgment Seat of Christ and work<br />
backwards, because everything I do <strong>to</strong>day and everything you do <strong>to</strong>day will<br />
one day be judged at <strong>the</strong> Judgment Seat of Christ. I can't put that off until<br />
some future day. That has impact on how I live my life <strong>to</strong>day. So I want <strong>to</strong><br />
judge everything I do <strong>to</strong>day based on what I know about that day.<br />
Tami Weissert: Wood, Jesus saves us, He gives us eternal life, and we love<br />
that, but <strong>the</strong> day is coming when He will also be our Judge.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Yes, and that's a very important day for us. So I think we<br />
need <strong>to</strong> know what <strong>to</strong> expect. That's what this radio series is all about. And<br />
I've entitled it <strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong>.<br />
Tami Weissert: You also wrote a book called <strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong>.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: I did, and it parallels what we've been studying here on<br />
<strong>the</strong> radio. It's my collection and explanation of <strong>Bible</strong> verses on <strong>the</strong> Judgment<br />
Seat of Christ, salvation, and also on rewards. I decided <strong>to</strong> write <strong>the</strong> book as<br />
an easy biblical reference for everything <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> says on <strong>the</strong>se subjects.<br />
Tami Weissert: We have Dr. Kroll's book, <strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong>,<br />
available <strong>to</strong> order. And when you place your order, we'll add his study guide<br />
at no extra cost. So give us a call for his book and bonus study guide. Here's<br />
<strong>the</strong> phone number: 1-800-759-2425.<br />
Future rewards have an impact on how we live our lives <strong>to</strong>day. But do we<br />
focus on <strong>the</strong> rewards or <strong>the</strong> service for <strong>the</strong> rewards. Dr. Kroll talks about our<br />
actions, our motivations, and our rewards as we continue our study here on<br />
<strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
5
Woodrow Kroll: Today we're thinking about <strong>the</strong> issue of whe<strong>the</strong>r or not we<br />
even ought <strong>to</strong> be discussing rewards. Is it spiritual for us <strong>to</strong> do so? I mean,<br />
shouldn't we just serve <strong>the</strong> Lord and let it go at that?<br />
But we've seen already that rewards confirm our salvation. That's one of <strong>the</strong><br />
reasons why God gives us rewards. But some people will say <strong>to</strong> you, "OK<br />
look, forget all this talk about eternal rewards, we ought <strong>to</strong> just serve Jesus<br />
because we love Him."<br />
I appreciate that sentiment. I agree we ought <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord because we<br />
love Him, but that sentimentality is not biblical thinking.<br />
I'm sorry if that offends you, but that's what <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> says. You don't serve<br />
<strong>the</strong> Lord just because you love Him. That ought <strong>to</strong> be reason enough.<br />
But let me see if I can give you an example. You love your mo<strong>the</strong>r, right?<br />
Well, of course you do. Supposing your mo<strong>the</strong>r is now a widow, lost your<br />
fa<strong>the</strong>r, and your mo<strong>the</strong>r is living in a distant city from you. And you decide<br />
(you and your wife or you and your husband decide) that you're going <strong>to</strong><br />
bring your mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> live with you. But not in your house; you're going <strong>to</strong><br />
build on <strong>to</strong> your house, add a little mo<strong>the</strong>r's apartment for your mo<strong>the</strong>r. You<br />
want her <strong>to</strong> be close <strong>to</strong> you and <strong>the</strong> kids, but you want her <strong>to</strong> have her own<br />
space.<br />
You're not a carpenter. You don't know <strong>the</strong> first thing about framing out a<br />
house, but you've got a hammer, and you go <strong>to</strong> a local s<strong>to</strong>re and you get<br />
some lumber and things, and you start pounding away.<br />
Well, lo and behold, after a few months you have this nice little apartment<br />
you've made for your mo<strong>the</strong>r. So she moves in<strong>to</strong> her little apartment<br />
because you love her, you built it for her. And she starts <strong>to</strong> hang some<br />
pictures of your fa<strong>the</strong>r. And she puts a nail in <strong>the</strong> wall and, lo and behold,<br />
<strong>the</strong> nail goes right through; just pounds it right through <strong>the</strong> wall. And she<br />
comes <strong>to</strong> you and says, "Son, I need you <strong>to</strong> help me find that board that's<br />
behind <strong>the</strong> wall. I need you <strong>to</strong> help me find that board."<br />
So you take a nail and you pound it in <strong>the</strong> wall, and you miss <strong>the</strong> stud, and<br />
you move it, and you pound, and you miss it. First thing you know, your wall<br />
looks like Swiss cheese.<br />
<strong>Your</strong> neighbor comes over and says, "What's <strong>the</strong> problem?"<br />
You say, "I can't find <strong>the</strong> stud in this wall."<br />
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And he says <strong>to</strong> you, "Didn't you put all those studs 16 inches on center?"<br />
You say, "What?"<br />
See, you love your mom so you built an apartment for her, but you didn't<br />
build it according <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> rules. You just built it because you love her.<br />
If you serve <strong>the</strong> Lord just because you love Him, and you don't pay any<br />
attention <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> rules, what you're going <strong>to</strong> have is an apartment you can't<br />
hang any pictures up in.<br />
Sure, we ought <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord because we love Him. But loving Him is not<br />
sufficient reason <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord. There are o<strong>the</strong>r reasons we have <strong>to</strong> dig<br />
out of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> so we serve Him appropriately. And if we serve Him<br />
appropriately, all <strong>the</strong> studs in our life are going <strong>to</strong> be 16 inches on center.<br />
Loving Jesus, serving Him--that's good. That's good motivation, by <strong>the</strong> way,<br />
but God doesn't s<strong>to</strong>p <strong>the</strong>re. His gracious rewards are strong and legitimate<br />
motivation for you and me <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord.<br />
In fact, Jesus commands us <strong>to</strong> lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven,<br />
where moth and rust do not corrupt. He urges us <strong>to</strong> be rich <strong>to</strong>ward God,<br />
Luke 12:21. It's an ambition that's both a healthy ambition and a holy<br />
ambition. It's something we ought <strong>to</strong> do--<strong>to</strong> labor for rewards <strong>to</strong> please Him,<br />
and also benefit us at <strong>the</strong> same time.<br />
Rewards ought <strong>to</strong> be an important motivation for us, if for no o<strong>the</strong>r reason<br />
than <strong>the</strong>re are so many people in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> that talk about how rewards<br />
ought <strong>to</strong> motivate us <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord.<br />
Let me give you some examples. The Lord Jesus Himself lists rewards as a<br />
motivation for service. Listen <strong>to</strong> this, Mat<strong>the</strong>w 6:1, "Beware of practicing<br />
your righteousness before o<strong>the</strong>r people in order <strong>to</strong> be seen by <strong>the</strong>m, for <strong>the</strong>n<br />
you will have no reward from your Fa<strong>the</strong>r who is in heaven." Jesus warned<br />
you, "Watch how you live your life, because if you don't live it correctly, your<br />
reward is gone; you already have your reward." That's <strong>the</strong> Lord Jesus talking<br />
about rewards as a motivation.<br />
Here's <strong>the</strong> Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race<br />
all runners compete, but only one receives <strong>the</strong> prize? [Now, listen <strong>to</strong> this,]<br />
So run that you may obtain it." Run that you can obtain <strong>the</strong> prize set before<br />
you.<br />
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Paul doesn't say, "Get in <strong>the</strong> race and love <strong>the</strong> Lord." You know, boy it would<br />
be so great if you just showed your great admiration for <strong>the</strong> Lord while you<br />
run. Paul says, "Get in <strong>the</strong> race, love <strong>the</strong> Lord and run <strong>to</strong> win." That's<br />
rewards. That's motivation.<br />
Here's what Peter says, 1 Peter 1:17, "And if you call on Him as Fa<strong>the</strong>r, who<br />
judges impartially according <strong>to</strong> one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear<br />
throughout <strong>the</strong> time of your exile." God will judge us impartially, but He will<br />
judge us according <strong>to</strong> our deeds. That's motivation <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord<br />
correctly.<br />
Here's what James says, James 1:12, "Blessed is <strong>the</strong> man who remains<br />
steadfast under trial, for when he has s<strong>to</strong>od <strong>the</strong> test he will receive <strong>the</strong><br />
crown of life, which God has promised <strong>to</strong> those who love Him."<br />
OK, God promises <strong>the</strong> crown of life <strong>to</strong> everybody who loves Him. Why <strong>the</strong>n<br />
does James talk about standing steadfast under trial? Because loving Him is<br />
not some emotional, mushy, gushy feeling in which you say, "Oh, God, You<br />
know how much I love You!" That's what you sing about. That's not what<br />
you do.<br />
When you translate your feelings in<strong>to</strong> life, you have <strong>to</strong> stand up under <strong>the</strong><br />
trials of life. That's what motivates you for a reward.<br />
By <strong>the</strong> way, here's what <strong>the</strong> Apostle John says, 2 John:8, "Watch yourselves,<br />
so that you may not lose what you have worked for, but so that you may<br />
receive a full reward" (paraphrase). Just be careful! Watch how you live your<br />
life. Don't allow anything in life <strong>to</strong> rob you of receiving a full reward.<br />
If he talks about a full reward, I have <strong>to</strong> guess <strong>the</strong>n that <strong>the</strong>re's a partial<br />
reward. And maybe even no reward at all. We'll get <strong>to</strong> that eventually in our<br />
study. But for <strong>to</strong>day, <strong>the</strong> issue is: Should we talk about rewards or not? And<br />
<strong>the</strong> answer is: The <strong>Bible</strong> does, Jesus does, Paul does, James does, John<br />
does. Why would we not talk about <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong>day?<br />
Rewards are designed by God <strong>to</strong> motivate us <strong>to</strong> service. Whatever God<br />
designs, it has got <strong>to</strong> be for our good.<br />
Tami Weissert: We're talking about eternal rewards <strong>to</strong>day here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Wood, I appreciate this because if we're living our lives for <strong>the</strong> Lord and<br />
things come in <strong>to</strong> distract us or pull us away from that, rewards are <strong>the</strong>re as<br />
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something tangible we can relate <strong>to</strong> and understand. And that motivates us<br />
<strong>to</strong> keep going, even when we may not feel like it.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Motivation, I think, is <strong>the</strong> key fac<strong>to</strong>r in doing anything.<br />
People who are motivated <strong>to</strong> do nothing always accomplish nothing. And it<br />
takes genuine motivation <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord honestly and <strong>to</strong> serve <strong>the</strong> Lord<br />
well. But that motivation first and foremost should come from our deepseated<br />
desire <strong>to</strong> glorify God in everything that we do. We want <strong>to</strong> please God<br />
and His Christ. We want <strong>to</strong> work for His Kingdom, not for our own. We want<br />
<strong>to</strong> do His will, not our own will. And when that's <strong>the</strong> case, we can't help but<br />
be properly motivated in <strong>the</strong> way that we serve <strong>the</strong> Lord.<br />
Tami Weissert: Wood, talk a little bit about balance—focusing on rewards<br />
versus focusing on service.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: I think we ought <strong>to</strong> be focused on service. Service does<br />
bring reward. But let's focus on <strong>the</strong> right thing. It's not that we shouldn't<br />
ever focus on rewards. We shouldn't live our lives <strong>the</strong>re. I mean, our lives<br />
are lived in service <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord. And whe<strong>the</strong>r or not we get a reward, we still<br />
belong <strong>to</strong> Him and we need <strong>to</strong> serve Him for that reason. It's not, however,<br />
unspiritual or ungodly or even unbiblical <strong>to</strong> think about rewards because<br />
that's one of God's motivations <strong>to</strong> keep us focused on service.<br />
Let me say one last thing before we wrap up <strong>to</strong>day, and that is: Let's<br />
recognize that rewards were God's idea. You don't like <strong>to</strong> talk about<br />
rewards? You wipe out of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> something God does like <strong>to</strong> talk about.<br />
Let's face it, rewards aren't about us. Service isn't about us. Rewards reflect<br />
<strong>the</strong> gracious character of God more than <strong>the</strong>y reflect any useful service that<br />
we have done.<br />
Rewards are not about us, <strong>the</strong>y're about <strong>the</strong> giver of <strong>the</strong> reward. While we<br />
have a tendency <strong>to</strong> focus on you and me and our rewards, what we need <strong>to</strong><br />
focus on is <strong>the</strong> glory of God and <strong>the</strong> One who gives rewards <strong>to</strong> us.<br />
Rewards are God's idea; that's a good thing. We focus on God while we're<br />
receiving our rewards; that's a good thing. Thankfully, God motivates us <strong>to</strong><br />
receive rewards and He helps us in <strong>the</strong> process of being motivated <strong>to</strong> serve<br />
Him <strong>to</strong> become more intimate with Him.<br />
The more we serve in rewardable service, <strong>the</strong> more intimate we become<br />
with God. You want <strong>to</strong> become intimate with God? You can read a <strong>to</strong>n of<br />
books, you can walk in <strong>the</strong> rain, you can commune with God. But if you want<br />
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<strong>to</strong> really get know God, get <strong>to</strong> know Him through <strong>the</strong> way you live your life.<br />
And when you and I do that, we'll be pleasing God.<br />
Fa<strong>the</strong>rs love <strong>to</strong> reward <strong>the</strong>ir children. Let's not deny God <strong>the</strong> great joy of<br />
providing rewards for you and me.<br />
Tami Weissert: Thanks for joining us <strong>to</strong>day here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Wood, I think it's pretty clear after <strong>to</strong>day that we know it's all right and, in<br />
fact, may be a good thing that we're motivated by eternal rewards. So thank<br />
you for that.<br />
You made a comment about how you want <strong>to</strong> start every day at <strong>the</strong><br />
Judgment Seat of Christ. Help us out a bit. What does that look like?<br />
Because we want that <strong>to</strong>o.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Next week we're going <strong>to</strong> actually see what <strong>the</strong> Judgment<br />
Seat of Christ is like, not physically, but what does it mean <strong>to</strong> us as<br />
individuals.<br />
In my mind every day, I want <strong>to</strong> start my day at <strong>the</strong> Judgment Seat and<br />
say, OK, by six o'clock, I'm going <strong>to</strong> be doing such-and-such. By nine<br />
o'clock, I'm going <strong>to</strong> be doing such-and-such. And I have <strong>to</strong> ask myself<br />
along <strong>the</strong> way during <strong>the</strong> day, Is what I am doing now what God wants me<br />
<strong>to</strong> be doing? Am I wasting my day? Am I wasting my time. Am I wasting my<br />
eternity and my reward based on <strong>the</strong> things that rob my time <strong>to</strong>day?<br />
So every day I have <strong>to</strong> start at <strong>the</strong> Judgment Seat of Christ, submit<br />
everything that day <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Judgment Seat so when I put my head on <strong>the</strong><br />
pillow at night, I can say, "OK, Lord, this was my last 24-hour period. What<br />
do You think?" I don't want <strong>to</strong> wait until <strong>to</strong>morrow <strong>to</strong> find out how things<br />
went <strong>to</strong>day. Because if things didn't go so well <strong>to</strong>day, I need <strong>to</strong> correct <strong>the</strong>m<br />
by <strong>to</strong>morrow. So we start every day at <strong>the</strong> Judgment Seat.<br />
Tami Weissert: You're listening <strong>to</strong> <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> with <strong>Bible</strong> Teacher<br />
Woodrow Kroll. Today's radio study is part of Dr. Kroll's series called "<strong>Facing</strong><br />
<strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong>." That's a complete three-week radio series, and you<br />
can order it on CD. Also available is Dr. Kroll's book by <strong>the</strong> same title. And<br />
when you order it, we will include <strong>the</strong> accompanying study guide as a bonus.<br />
"<strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong>," <strong>the</strong> CD series, <strong>the</strong> book and <strong>the</strong> study guide<br />
are all available <strong>to</strong> order. Just give us a call at 1-800-759-2425.<br />
This was our first week of preparation for facing our final job review. We<br />
have two more <strong>to</strong> go. What's in s<strong>to</strong>re for us next week, Wood?<br />
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Woodrow Kroll: We're going <strong>to</strong> look at <strong>the</strong> evaluation that happens at <strong>the</strong><br />
Judgment Seat of Christ. And on Monday, I'm going <strong>to</strong> talk about two things:<br />
1) That evaluation is absolutely necessary. In o<strong>the</strong>r words, none of us can<br />
escape. And 2) That evaluation is absolutely universal. In o<strong>the</strong>r words, none<br />
of us can escape. This is something every Christian (and if you are a believer<br />
<strong>to</strong>day, that means you--every Christian) can look forward <strong>to</strong>. That's Monday<br />
here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
The weekend is here. Make sure you're in your church this weekend, as well,<br />
being faithful <strong>to</strong> your local congregation and your pas<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
Then join us on Monday as we come back <strong>to</strong> <strong>Facing</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Job</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
right here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>. God bless you. I'm Woodrow Kroll. Have a<br />
good and godly day.<br />
*Randy Alcorn, "The Believer's Judgment of Works", Eternal Perspectives,<br />
January/February, 1994.<br />
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