Peter turned to Jesus with a serious question: We have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? Mt 19:27. They were all interested in one thing: the reward.

The Bible often mentions the reward promised to the overcomers. Here is one example:

For so [according to the program set forth in the previous verses] an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:11

What do we know about the kingdom of glory? Not much. Men have formed a variety of strange ideas about heaven. When I was a little boy, about four years old, I heard people talking about heaven. I made no difference between heaven and sky, because in German, my mother tongue, there is only one word for both Himmel. So, when people mentioned the idea of going to heaven, I thought they were planning to move to a place not far from where the blue canopy touches the earth. In my childish mind, the earth was only as big as my little eyes could see all around myself. The area where I lived with my parents was flat as flat as a table. One day, as I was motivated by my childish curiosity, I decided to go to heaven and touch it with my own hands. So I began to walk through pastures and meadows. I kept walking, and walking, and walking, but I wasn’t coming any closer to heaven. I still continued walking, until I got tired and hungry, and heaven the horizon, the circular line where the sky appears to meet the earth was still as far away from me as when I had left home. Completely disappointed that I couldn’t reach heaven on that day, I turned back. But I didn’t give up my childish idea of going to heaven. I was still making plans to try again.

Well, I never gave up the idea of going to heaven in a real sense. The difference between then and now is this: Then I did not know the way; now I do know the way. And I take if for granted that all those who are present here know the way. But many people don’t. Even the disciples were not clear on this point. Thomas said to Christ:

Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Pointing out the way, Christ answered:

I'm the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. John 14:5, 6.

From the beginning of the world, man has often repeated the question of Peter and the question of Thomas. And God has not left man without an answer. That which He has revealed about the reward promised to the overcomers is sufficient for us.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. 1 Cor 2:9, 10.

It is our privilege to embrace by faith the promised recompense that God showed to the patriarchs and prophets, because this promise also belongs to us and to all true reformers.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:13-16.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Hebrews 11: 24-26.

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39,40.

As the disciples wanted to have a more detailed answer from Jesus concerning the future that was reserved for them, He gave them the same assurance that He had previously given to all men of God, but He also stipulated some of the conditions:

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:12-14.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:34-36,40

In these words Christ draws a contrast between the self-seeking practices of the world, and the unselfish ministry of which He has given an example in His own life. For such ministry He offers no reward of worldly gain or recognition. "Thou shalt be recompensed," He says, "at the resurrection of the just." Then the results of every life will be made manifest, and every one will reap that which he has sown.

To every worker for God this thought should be a stimulus and an encouragement. In this life our work for God often seems to be almost fruitless. Our efforts to do good may be earnest and persevering, yet we may not be permitted to witness their results. To us the effort may seem to be lost. But the Saviour assures us that our work is noted in heaven, and that the recompense cannot fail. The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says, "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." [GAL. 6:9.] And in the words of the psalmist we read, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." [PS. 126:6.]

While the great final reward is given at Christ's coming, true-hearted service for God brings a reward, even in this life. Obstacles, opposition, and bitter, heart-breaking discouragements, the worker will have to meet. He may not see the fruit of his toil. But in face of all this he finds in his labor a blessed recompense. All who surrender themselves to God in unselfish service for humanity are in co-operation with the Lord of glory. This thought sweetens all toil, it braces the will, it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall. Working with unselfish heart, ennobled by being partakers of Christ's sufferings, sharing His sympathies, they help to swell the tide of His joy, and bring honor and praise to His exalted name. In fellowship with God, with Christ, and with holy angels, they are surrounded with a heavenly atmosphere, an atmosphere that brings health to the body, vigor to the intellect, and joy to the soul. GW 512, 513.

In a limited way, many of us receive a sort of recompense on earth in the form of talents, advantages, and means for a specific purpose because the Lord knows that we are willing to open our hearts and hands to the needy.

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:28-30

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. Job 29: 15, 16

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Isaiah 58: 7, 8

Our final and complete recompense will come in the future in connection with the coming of Christ, our resurrection from the dead, our transformation (if we are found among the living saints), our translation into the kingdom, and the establishment of the new earth.

And in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:30 (last line). And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev 22:12. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Th 4:16, 17. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3.

The hope of the patriarchs and prophets, the hope of the disciples, the hope of all true reformers down through the centuries, is also our hope today. The same promise that was given to them belongs to us also.

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Pet 3:13. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:4

Christ's redeemed ones are His jewels, His precious and peculiar treasure. "They shall be as the stones of a crown,"--"the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." ZECH. 9:16; EPH. 1:18. In them "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied. ISA. 53:11.

And will not His workers rejoice when they, too, behold the fruit of their labors? GW 517.

A Christian once said that when he reached heaven he expected to meet with three causes of wonder. He would wonder to find some that he did not expect to see there. He would wonder not to see some that he expected to meet, and, lastly, he would wonder most to find so unworthy a sinner as himself in the Paradise of God. FLB 370.