Super Youth For Jesus!
The Bible, time and again tells us, that God cares for our walk, not talk. True to that, when we come to the Book of Revelation, there is hardly any talk about talk. It is all works, works and works. We can talk the walk, but can we walk the Talk? It is easy to talk, but it takes a lot of energy and struggles to walk what we talk.
Tsunami like events testifies that we are living in the last days. The Book of Revelation teaches us a lot about works. The three days, whatever you heard was sweet to hear and eat. But when the Word penetrates you, goes into your depth and starts its work of transformation it will turn bitter. “So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me: Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth, it will be as sweet as honey. I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour” (10:9,10). Let’s see what God has to say about works in the last days.
1. Works and Character
The emphasis placed on works outstands as we read the Lord’s warning to each of the seven churches.
  • 2:2 Ephesus - "I know your works."
  • 2:9 Smyrna - "I know your works."
  • 2:13 Pergamos - "I know your works."
  • 2:19 Tyathira - "I know your works."
  • 3:1 Sardis - "I know your works."
  • 3:8 Philadelphia - "I know your works."
  • 3:15 Laodicia - "I know your works."
The Lord says, "I know your works…" and then goes on to talk about labour, patience, love, faith etc., which means our character, that is, our holiness. Our number one work is to build our character. Purity is the jewel for a girl. Many thieves will come to steal it. Beware! The honeybee will never, never sit on dirt though it may starve for want of flowers or honey. Remember, holiness is your priority, even if you have to sacrifice your life. Let's not dilly-dally but take holiness seriously.
While writing in his first letter to his disciple Timothy, Paul admonishes him, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly" (4:7). Less talk, more work! As we take up this training, we find ourselves in the pit of failure often and feel like giving up. A Christian has no defeat. Defeat is when you refuse to get up from your fall. Every fall is a landmark achievement in your Christian walk, provided you recover. Appraise the situation and make decisions. Hard times teach you hard lessons. The day you say, "I give up," is your doomsday. "Never quit"—live by these words all your life. Never let your optimism flag. Hang on to Jesus. He is our only recourse. Some who escaped the tsunami were those who clung to branches. Cling to Jesus, and no tsunami can take you away. Look forward, never backward. As many times you fall, get up, put the past behind, dust your bottom and continue your walk. No doubt it's a struggle. But let me quote Gab V. Pensadov here: "It's no use looking up to heaven with too much faith and too little struggle."
2. Works and Rewards (22:12)
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to his work." Jesus said the same, "For the Son of man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to his works" (Mt 16:27). For what do you receive rewards?
Mt 5:11,12-Rewards for persecutions
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."
Mt 5:46-Rewards for Christian love
"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?"
Mt 6:1-4; Lk 6:35-Rewards for secret alms and loans
"When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
"Love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great."
Mt 6:6-Rewards for prayer
"When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done is secret, will reward you."
Mt 6:16,18-Rewards for fasting
"When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen and your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Mt 10:41,42-Rewards for hospitality
"Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
1 Cor 3: 8,13,14-Rewards for ministry
"The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor… His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward."
Eph 6:7,8-Rewards for good works
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."
Heb 10:35-Rewards for confidence
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
Heb 11:6-Rewards for seeking God
"Without faith it is impossible to please God; because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
It is hard for us to believe that when we pray or give a cup of coffee to a guest or help someone or seek God, we have accolades on high.
There’s going to be a breathtaking award-giving ceremony up there. Keep doing all the above till your life is done.
Set your mind on eternal rewards and keep marching forward as Moses who “regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Heb 11:26).
Be Super Youth for Jesus!
Dr. Mrs. Lilian Stanley