PAUL’S REWARD

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing!” (2 Tim. 4:8 NKJV).

As a result of his faithfulness to duty, the apostle Paul had no fear of facing the Lord, the righteous Judge. Instead, he was anticipating a reward in the form of a crown of righteousness which was already waiting in store for him.

The cause of the reward – “Finally.” This refers back to the previous verse. Paul had fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith. There is a wonderful reward for that kind of performance. Paul says this crown is also given to those “who have loved His appearing.”

The certifying of the reward – “Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day.” The reward was decided and certified by a “righteous Judge” not by someone paid off behind the scenes or for a political favor etc. This Judge will adjudicate righteously which is good news for the godly who have been rejected by the crooked world regardless of the excellence of their performance.

The character of the reward – “Crown of righteousness.” This crown is not like the laurel wreath of the athletic games which were perishable. Further, it is a noble award that will not corrupt the recipient like so many earthly awards do. Heaven’s awards do not defile the recipient.

The coming of the reward – “On that day.” The reward is future and eternal. It will not occur in this life. It will occur when the Divine assessment is proclaimed on our service. Those who only work for the rewards from the world in this life will miss the greatest rewards of eternity.

(Adapted from Butler’s Analytical Bible Expositor)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Our rewards in heaven are a result of God’s crowning His own gifts!”

Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430)

Theologian and Philosopher

Word Study

Flood

In Matt. 24:38 we read, “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark” (NKJV).

“Flood” is the Greek word kataklysmós (κατακλυσμός = kat-ak-looce-mos'). It is made up of two words: “kata” which intensifies meaning, and “kludon” which refers to a dashing or surging wave, a surge, a violent agitation of the sea. Thus, the word refers to an inundation, a deluge (as Noah’s deluge). In context, the Lord Jesus is emphasizing the unexpected nature of His return by making a comparison to the time of Noah. The people in the days of Noah did not heed the warnings of judgment that were given to them (cf. 2 Peter 2:5). They were so wrapped up in everyday activities that they were caught off-guard because they had no concern for righteousness and spiritual realities. And so it is today, the world is living just as it was living in Noah’s day. But Scripture tells us that the coming of the Lord will be sudden and unexpected, shattering to the world of unbelievers.

Did You Know…

According to 1 Cor. 1: 2, a saint is one who is “sanctified in Christ Jesus.”

Bible Quiz

In the Gospel of Mark, what did the voice from the cloud say at the Lord Jesus’ transfiguration?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

Why did the Israelites want Samuel to appoint a king over them? So they could be like all the other nations (1 Sam. 8:19-20).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

Confronted by adversaries in the Garden (Psalm 40:14; cf. John 18:4-6)

"Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who seek to destroy my life; let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish me evil” (Psalm 40:14 NJKV).

In context, the Psalmist believed that the Lord, in rescuing him, should confound all those who sought to take his life and bring him ruin. Here we have an allusion to Psalm 27:2 which says, “When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.” David did not seek to bring his judgment down upon his enemies. Instead, he waited on the Lord to judge those who sought to take his life. Interestingly enough, in John 18:4-6, when the “troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees” came to arrest the Lord Jesus, His answer of “I Am He,” knocked them all backward to the ground. His disclosure of Himself was sudden and unexpected; and while they perhaps anticipated that He would make an effort to escape, they were amazed at His open and bold profession. Their collapse reveals that the Lord Jesus was not arrested in weakness. It affirms His control over the events.

Did You Know – Christian History

Joseph Lister - February 10, 1912

Joseph Lister was born April 5, 1827, in Upton, West Ham, England. He was an English surgeon, medical scientist, experimental pathologist and pioneer of antiseptic surgery and preventive healthcare.

Lister was born to a prosperous, educated Quaker family. As a child, Lister had a stammer and this was possibly why he was educated at home. Lister then attended a private Quaker school. Before he turned sixteen, Lister had made many dissections under the microscope and announced he would become a surgeon. His surprised mother did not discourage him, although no one else in the family had ever entered that profession.

Lister became a doctor partly because he was a Quaker. Quakers were forbidden to enter Cambridge or Oxford universities where law and other professions were taught. “Godless” London University was the only great institution in England that opened its doors to a Quaker, so Lister studied there. While still a student there, he authored a pamphlet on the “Use of the Microscope in Medicine” using a microscope given him by his father (his father, J. J. Lister, a wine-distiller, was co-inventor of the compound microscope). Lister also pioneered the use of “catgut” ligatures (actually the intestines of cows or sheep). But his greatest contribution was to show that infections were caused by germs. A friend had shown him an article by Louis Pasteur. He hunted for something that would kill germs while not injuring body tissues. He discovered that carbolic acid (phenol) kills germs. Its use greatly decreased death rates after surgery. However, the wet carbolic acid made a doctor’s hand’s raw during surgery and bandages soaked in it irritated patients’ skin, making them miserable, which is why hospitals today try to create aseptic conditions to isolate the patient from germs.

With regards to his personal life, Lister had to leave the Society of Friends (Quakers) because the woman he married was not a Quaker. He then faithfully attended the Scottish Episcopal Church. A man of true Christian character, no one ever heard him raise his voice in anger. If ever he did anything to give offense, he was quick to apologize. He said of himself, “I am a believer in the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.”

Lister belongs on a short list of the world’ greatest doctors. His research taught him that killing germs would save lives and allow surgeons to operate inside bodies. Fierce resistance met his ideas, and he had to defend them over the opposition of England’s top physicians. But when he died on February 10, 1912, he was recognized around the world as one of the great benefactors of mankind. Modern surgery is possible thanks to the persistence and faith of Quaker-born Joseph Lister.

A Little Humor

At breakfast, a child asked, “If Jesus rolled the stone away, does that mean He had super strength?” Dad replied, “It wasn’t rolled away so He could get out - it was rolled away so we could see in.” The child nodded thoughtfully. “Still… pretty strong.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Don’t worry about tomorrow, God is already there!”