The Coming Reward

2 Corinthians 5:8

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord

Psalms 71:18

18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

This morning I begin to think of a song my Grandmother sung in church. It went “I’m not a getting older, I’m only getting closer to home.” I remember her in her seventies and eighties going to the nursing home to pray with the elderly, as she called them, even though she was older than most of them. She would tell people that as long as God gave her the strength she would continue to do his work and go and take care of the elderly. She made it clear when she could no longer do his work she wanted to go home to be with Jesus. She went home in 2016 and I still think about the lesson that little woman taught me. That no matter how tired and old I get, keep working. She always said, one day you will be as old as me, your hair will turn gray, your body will hurt, and your health will decline. However, keep doing the work for God. On day when you don’t want to get up, make yourself get up and keep going. She would grin and say, our reward is not here on earth, but it is worth the wait to get there. I realize that now. Granny never stopped working until the day she opened her eyes in the arms of her savior. She was always willing to talk about Jesus. We have to be that same way. Don’t look for the money that serving Christ can bring. Don’t look for the fame and glory it can bring. Instead, rejoice in the work and know that our reward is greater than anything this world can offer. I know the day will come when I get to be present with my Lord Jesus Christ. I will get to hug my Granny’s neck and walk through heaven with her. However, until that day come I pray God gives us the strength to keep going. I pray that as we grow older, we continue to stand firm in the Lord Jesus Christ. Once day we will receive our reward, but until then let us continue to spread the word and love of Jesus.