210. God Gives and Rewards
Jeremiah 17:10 I the Lord search he heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
The promise is that the Lord will give to every person justly and accurately according to his ways and the fruit of his behavior. Perfect justice will be rendered to all people Some Day. This, of course, is judgment on Judgment Day. This is not a good news promise awaiting unbelievers; for them this statement is a dire warning: repent and turn from your sinful ways. God is keeping a full accounting, and every little or large sin will be righteously paid for in The Judgment. No one gets away with anything. The Judgment will be according to works: How did we live? What kind of works did we do? What fruits are produced through our life? Every sinner innately knows this judgment is coming. And fears.
And this warning applies to every thought, word, deed, and desire. God knows the heart, searches it out, and keeps track of every inner thought. There is no escape from the all-seeing, all-knowing search and trial of God. We cannot keep secrets from the Lord, the Judge of all. This truth is frightening for every sinner: I will never get away with anything. God knows and gives accordingly the judgment it deserves. This kind of prophetic truth yields the false doctrine and false hope that I need to do enough good things to outweigh the bad. The problem is that I can do nothing good, for I am not good and I can do nothing good. I am doomed!
But there is good news and a great promise: Jesus forgives and takes away every last, single sin, and no bad thought, word or deed will appear in the judgment. When the books are opened no sin will be found on my account, if I believe in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Thus the Lord can justly, rightly, finally, and eternally say to me: “Enter into the joy of the Lord.”
And there is more good news: I will be rewarded with great rewards for every righteous thought, word or deed ever done in me and through me. Of course, every good work and good fruit ever done is done by God, never once by me. For in my flesh dwells no good thing. And more good news promises: I will receive the reward for every good work done by the Lord in me. He does the work; I get the reward for it. He will give me according to the fruit of my doing (which is His doing). This precious promise motivates us to repent and believe the Gospel.