God our great reward brings His rewards with Him. For the past seven months, the focus of this blog has been God’s gifts. It’s time to pause a moment, and be sure our focus isn’t missing the Giver.
Don’t boast that overlooking God is impossible, because Adam and Eve had contact with God himself every evening when He came to walk in the garden. They had a solid, blessed relationship as a couple, the perfect place to live, and companionship with the Creator.
They listened to the Liar, who induced discontent in them while they had everything they could ever need, because he was not content with his God-given status. After that, Adam and Eve tossed aside perfection for the one thing God commanded them not to eat.
When the moment came that God reconfirmed a covenant with Abraham, the Lord called Himself Abraham’s very great reward. Abraham couldn’t see the point, because he had no children to inherit his possessions. If we fail to comprehend the value of a relationship with God, then we’ll also put too much value on physical objects which wear out, and fickle human acclaim.
Christ satisfied God’s Justice
Despite that, God our great reward brings His rewards with Him.
He is graciously generous, and intent on giving those He loves good things because he is faithful when we aren’t, and loves justice even when we don’t. Loving justice means that the reward for evil is punishment.
When David behaved righteously by sparing Saul’s life, he learned that his choice compelled his enemy to bless him.
Not all of God’s rewards are abstract and spiritual. The roots of the word reward mean to look back at, regard, care for and recompense. “You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty; and they store up wealth for their children.” (Psalm 17:14).
God our great reward brings His rewards with Him.
Because He looks back at us with mercy, and cares for us, He satisfied his own demand for justice in the person of his Son. He will return to bring his city and a new earth, where we who believe will live with him forever. “And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” (Psalm 17:15).
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Ruth DeMaat
Heidi Kortman