Heaven’s Awards Ceremony

Each year, millions of people watch the Academy Awards. They tune in to see what the celebrities are wearing and who will win the Oscars.

Now when it comes to that future day of rewards in Heaven called the Judgment Seat of Christ, it is not going to be quite like the Academy Awards. We think the names of certain people will be called out, great men and women of the faith that we have heard of, and that they will get all of the awards. But it depends on what their motives were. It depends on why they did what they did. We don’t really know who will receive what.

But I do know this: God will judge us on the quality of what we did rather than on the quantity. He will look at the motive. That is what matters.

Paul said of this judgment, “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:12–13).

The wood, hay, or straw that burns quickly does not speak of gross sin as much as it does speak of putting more importance on the passing things of this life than on the things of God.

But if you have built your life on the right foundation, if you have done the things of God with the right motive for His glory, then you will receive a reward.