¹² “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work …” ¹⁴ Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:12, 14 NKJV

On my last food for thought of the year, I want to take into consideration what I focused on a great deal this year and will certainly carry forward into the new year. You see, it is one thing to have heard of the word of God but it is another thing completely when you are attentive to the word of God. Scripture is filled with the encouragement for one to live according to the word of God, right? At the same time, scripture is filled with the urgent warning that God is coming and will judge the world.

Why is God coming to judge the world? Well, the Lord desires to dwell with us. However, God is not going to dwell with the sinner; He will only dwell with that which is holy and righteous. So, as we see Jesus say here in scripture, He is coming quickly with a reward to give every one according to their work. The reward that is insight in this scripture is the reward of entering through the gates of the kingdom of heaven. Who will inherit heaven? Jesus tells us that those who do His commandments; the redeemed of the Old Testament, the Church, and the redeemed of the Great Tribulation.

Yes, the sincere believers will be judged and rewarded with the right to the tree of life! Our salvation is sealed and will be rewarded to us by Christ. Who will not receive this reward? Those standing on the outside (Rev. 23:15); the ones who chose not to heed the word of God. So, I close out the year with this word of encouragement: be attentive to God’s great reward by living today according to the word of God.