Kingdom Rewards, Not Merits
In study today, I was encouraged in thinking through the undeserving rewards that God freely gives His children. The beattitudes in Matthew 5 pronounce blessing after blessing, saying, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; they shall be comforted; they shall inherit the earth; they shall be satisfied; they shall receive mercy; they shall see God; and they shall be called sons of God.
These are gracious rewards, not merits earned by something we did or do. C.S. Lewis says, A man who marries a woman for her money is rewarded by her money, but he is rightly judged mercenary because the reward is not naturally linked with love. On the other hand, marriage is the proper reward of an honest and true lover; and he is not mercenary for desiring it because love and marriage are naturally linked. The proper rewards are not simply tacked on to the activity for which they are given, but are the activity itself in consummation. As DA Carson says, Life lived under kingdom norms is naturally linked with the bliss of life in the consummated kingdom.
So, for example, to be pure in heart is a kingdom norm that is linked with the joy of seeing God in the consummated kingdom. It is not that we be pure, so we can see God. It doesn't work that way. It can't work that way, because you cannot make yourself pure, nor can you make yourself see God. Only God can make you pure and make you see Him. So, the kingdom norm and the reward are gracious gifts from the Father above. What a blessing!
