“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. Revelation 22:12
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me.” The word recompense includes both reward and punishment; punishment for the evildoers and reward for those who are righteous and holy (Rev 22:11). We will focus on the reward for His servants which Christ brings with Him when He returns.
“Behold, I am coming soon…” This statement is first of all wonderful! Jesus is coming soon! No generation has been closer to the coming of Jesus than our generation. Would it not be great to be present when He comes on the clouds of heaven with all the heavenly hosts!? Well, we may live to see it! This statement is also sure! It’s not an utterance of a fallible man who tries to foretell the future. It’s the Lord of the future who reveals to man the infallible decree of God! And finally, this statement makes your ministry urgent! The time you have to reach the children in your country may be shorter than you think. Because Christ is coming soon, children need to hear soon!
“…bringing my recompense with me…” Christ will not come empty-handed. His hands will be full and overflowing with rewards for those who have served Him. “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master’.” Matt. 25:21). Our reward will be abundant, eternal, joyful and far beyond all we can think.
“…to repay each one…” No one will be overlooked. Christ notices everything you do so that children can spend eternity in heaven. He is aware of the time you spend in preparation, of the battles you fight to overcome discouragement, of your endurance when you see little or no fruit. Christ sees it all! And the day of His coming will be the time to generously repay each children’s worker for his faithfulness, diligence and obedience to the Word of God.
“…for what he has done.” Every faithful children’s worker will receive a reward, but it’s not the same for all. There are degrees of rewards. Paul reminds us, let each one take care how he builds…! (1 Cor. 3:10) He then points out that each one’s ministry will be carefully tested. Each one’s work will become manifest…and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done (v 13). Some children’s workers do the bare minimum. They take time for many things but are poorly prepared when they stand in front of the children. The test of fire will reveal the quality of their work. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (v 15). Others will be highly rewarded and entrusted with beautiful and higher responsibilities. Some will hear Jesus say, “Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities” or “you are to be over five cities” (Luke 19:17,19)!
At the day of reward do you think you will regret the time and effort you spent to prepare your Bible lesson or your memory verse well? Certainly not! – What reward will you get?
This article first appeared in our Autumn 2020 National Newsletter.
