EQUALITY IN HEAVEN?
by R. E. Harlow (1908-2003)
The philosophers of our culture predicate that in the
ideal society all people will have equal rights, In the millennium
righteousness will reign from sea to sea and pole to pole, with the
first and only entirely righteous Ruler on the throne. In the new earth,
righteousness will dwell, 2 Peter 3:13 
Corinth - judgment seat
Assuredly there will be nothing unrighteous in heaven. the God of heaven
is the quintessence of righteousness. Only those He has justified or
made righteous will enter His eternal resting place. They are all there
on the same basis, the shed blood and the finished work of Christ. God
shows no respect of persons or partiality, Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter
1:17.
There are royal blessings for all
God’s children in the city four-square with a gold street. Will all be
equally happy? Happy, yes, praise shall be to each from God, 1
Corinthians 4:5. Perhaps no one will be found to have built only wood,
hay, stubble. Everyone will have at least a little gold, silver, stone?
But some much more than others.
If our joy
hinges on our reward, obviously there must be differences of joy.
Rewards are promised at the Bema, the Judgment Seat of Christ. This word
is sometimes interpreted as the Award Throne of Christ, because no one
will appear there and then be consigned to hell. In the same way, at the
Great White Throne, none will go from there to heaven. At the end of
the Great Tribulation, living persons will be divided by the newly
incumbent World Sovereign. The sheep will enter the Kingdom, the goats
banished to eternal punishment, Matthew 25:46). But the word Bema is
used only of Pilate, Herod, Gallio, Festus, Caesar and Christ. These
secular rulers were making judicial decisions, not handing out laurel
wreaths. But Christ will give rewards to those who deserve them.
We all get to heaven on the identical basis, the shed blood of the Lamb
of God, the Son of God, the Son of Man. But there is more to heaven
than just being there. There will be crowns for those who merit them, to
lay at the feet of the Lord Jesus. Some will have eternally the happy
memory of the Lord’s words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Of
course, He cannot say this to those who never served Him well, to bad or
faithless servants. Some will lament to see a lifetime of wood, hay,
stubble go up in on puff of smoke, leaving them empty-handed, and
forever!
It must be self-evident and
irrefutable that our behavior in this world is preparatory for our
eternal existence. No one will be saved by good works, and no one saved
by blood will be unrewarded for anything he does for the Lord. Beyond
doubt all in heaven will be happy, but some will have greater capacity
to enjoy the Lord and His blessings. All cups will be full but some will
have bigger cups. For example, we can believe that God will reveal to
us ever more of the great truths about Himself. Perhaps we develop the
capability to understand and enjoy Him and His Word in this life.
The doctrine of eternal security is fundamental and essential to the
Gospel. Without it, we require works to keep us in an accepted state
before God. This would bring the “good news” under God’s curse,
Galatians 1:8,9. But eternal security is fundamental and essential does
NOT give the believer liberty to live a worldly, carnal life. There are
two checks or balances: parental chastening if we sin, and the promise
of rewards if we serve.
The Lord Jesus
specifically taught about rewards on two occasions: as He approached
Jerusalem, Luke19, and on the Mount of Olives, Matthew 25. The first
time the gifts were equal, one pound to each servant. The words of
commendation depended on the amount of success. In the second, He gives
varying gifts, and equal 100% results elicited identical commendation.
Also note that in the parable, late starters received the same reward,
Matthew 20:9.
This is heartening for
those who obey His categorical command and herald the good news to every
creature. The missionary has a special opportunity. He or she leaves
all to fight where Satan’s throne is. That IS self-denial. The
prayer-backer and sacrificial supporter may well receive equal praise
from the great Lord of the Harvest. This writer just hopes he is near
enough to hear what the King will say to some of these His choice
servants.
from the November 1996 issue of Missions magazine
