A couple years ago we purchased a new vehicle. To us, it looked so pretty and had that great new car smell. We were careful to keep it garaged, washed, and waxed. Most of the time we parked further from the store to minimize damage by others. But it wasn’t long before we saw a huge ding where someone had opened their door into our car. Soon after, there was a large scrape from a shopping cart. Then a chip appeared in the front of the car from gravel. In short order, that thing we had highly prized didn’t look sharp anymore. Does this sound familiar?

As the author of Hebrews wrote to encourage Jewish saints to remain faithful to the Lord in their daily walk; he pointed out something to highly motivate them. He said: “…ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (Hebrews 10:34). The word “substance” means an existing property, wealth, or goods. The connotation is that these believers had a tangible eternal reward that they should highly prize. Moreover, unlike our earthly treasures, eternal reward endures without tarnish, blemish, or decay. Peter described it as “…an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (I Peter 1:4). These encouragements came after the Lord Jesus Christ urged His Kingdom followers to not be concerned with amassing earthly treasure. He told them: “…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20). How were they to lay up these eternal enduring rewards? The Savior told them: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5:11-12). We in the Dispensation of Grace are to be similarly motivated to faithfulness by eternal reward. We are urged to not build our lives after salvation with perishable things that will be burned at the Bema Seat (I Corinthians 3:12-15). Instead, we are to build with gold, silver, and precious stones in the sense of living for the cause of Christ, and to set our affections now on “things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).

My fellow believer, we need to be purposely earning eternal reward by doing something specific to further the cause of Christ. What will you do today?