For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.– 2 Corinthians 5:10
Understanding this is key as to how we choose to live during our pilgrimage here on earth. Knowing we are accountable to Christ greatly influences the decisions we make. Keep in mind that Paul is speaking of believers, not unbelievers. This has to do with our rewards, not our redemption. Contrary to what some think, there are no degrees of fitness for heaven. The only grounds upon which any may enter heaven is through our faith in the finished work of Christ who shed His blood and gave His life that we might live. But, there will different degrees of reward in heaven–for some there will be more than for others.
We need to get rid of the foolish notion that we will all be exactly alike in heaven–the Bible teaches no such thing. Just as there are different degrees of punishment in hell, there are different capacities for enjoying heaven. While everyone in heaven will be happy, some will be happier than others. All will have their cup of pleasure from which they drink, but some will have bigger cups. Although heaven will be gain for all believers it will be of more gain for some.
William MacDonald said it well when he wrote these words:
Here are two young men who are the same age and who are converted at the same time. One goes out and lives the next forty years by giving top priority to the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The other gives the best of his life to making money. The first talks enthusiastically about the things of the Lord, the second about activity in the market. The first has a greater capacity for enjoying the Lord now, and he will take that greater capacity to heaven. The second, though equally fit for heaven through the Person and work of Christ, is spiritually dwarfed, and he takes that reduced capacity to heaven.
Day by day we are determining the rewards that we will receive and the measure to which we will enjoy our eternal home. We determine it by our knowledge of the Bible and our obedience to it, by our prayer life, by our fellowship with God’s people, by our service for the Lord, and by our faithful stewardship of all that God has given to us. As soon as we realize that we are building for eternity with every passing day, it should have a profound effect on the choices we make and the priorities we set.
