Summer
2001
The
Reward for the Overcomer
Wade E Taylor
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling
of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14.
This “prize” is not heaven. Paul said that he
was pressing toward this prize, that he might apprehend it.
“I do not say that I have already won the race or
have
already reached perfection. But I am pressing on,
striving to lay hold of the prize for which also Christ
has laid hold of me.” Phil 3:12 Weymouth.
He understood that heaven is a part of our redemption, which
is freely provided for us. Thus, he could say, “We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the
body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Cor 5:8. All
who are saved will be in heaven. The prize which Paul is striving
to attain is to be seated, as an overcomer, with the Lord
on His throne.
Scripture teaches much through contrast. Those who are “singing”
in Rev 5:9-10 have been gathered from “every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation.” Those in Rev 7:9
who “cried” with a loud voice have also been gathered
from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.”
However, the outcome for each of these groups is quite different,
and can be compared to the five wise and the five foolish
virgins in Matt 25:1-13. Only half of these virgins, (the
wise) were able to enter into the marriage of the Lamb and
then be seated with their Bridegroom on His throne.
Those virgins who were “foolish” were not prepared,
and were told to “go and buy for yourselves.”
There is a price that must be paid in order to enter into
our Lords highest and best. Thus, Paul said, “I press
toward the mark for the prize …”
At the end of the messages to the seven churches, a promise
is given that applies to all those within each of these churches
who had committed their lives to the Lord, and who rose above
the problems they faced.
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me
on
My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My
Father on His throne.” Rev 3:21 NKJV.
Chapters four and five of Revelation give us a view of these
who are seated with the Lord in His throne.
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy
to
take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast
slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And
hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we
shall reign on the earth.” Rev 5:9-10 (emphasis added).
There are three important statements in the above Scriptures.
1. “they sang.” They are rejoicing.
2. “hast made us.” There is a qualifying process.
3. “we shall reign on the earth.” They have received
a reward.
To be “seated on a throne” speaks of governmental
authority. Thus, their statement in Rev 5:9-10 that the Lord
has “made us” means that these, like the “wise
virgins” have “qualified” themselves as
overcomers, and are seated on the Throne with the Lord in
order to reign with Him.
There is another group who, like the “foolish virgins”
were not able to enter into the marriage that led to the throne.”
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,
which no man
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms in their hands. And cried with
a
loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What
are these
which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And
I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These
are
they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and
serve him day
and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne
shall
dwell among them.” Rev 7:9-15.
There are two important statements in this Scripture.
1. They “cried … saying salvation.” They
are not overcomers.
2. They are “before the throne of God, and serve.”
They are not reigning.
Those in Chapter 5 of Revelation (the wise virgins) are seated
with the Lord on the throne and are “reigning.”
They are seen as being in the midst of the throne, “as
a sea of glass.” That is, their lives have been so dealt
with that they have become transparent in His presence, so
much so, that only Jesus is seen in the reflection of all
that they have become.
These in Chapter 7 of Revelation (the foolish virgins) are
standing before the throne and are “serving.”
The outcome for each of these groups who had been redeemed
from every nation is quite different.
The group in Revelation 5 testified that they had become
“kings and priests.” But those in Revelation 7
could only say “salvation,” because that was all
that they had. They were satisfied to be saved and look forward
to a future heaven.
Life is a probationary period during which we make choices
and decisions which determine our future. We can make the
right decisions and be as the “wise virgins.”
Or, we can chose for our self-satisfaction and comfort, and
be as the “foolish virgins.”
What I have become will unfold in all its ramifications throughout
the ages of eternity, in whatever level I have attained to.
Our Christian life is not comparable to our being placed in
a bowl of punch, where everything is mixed together and loses
its identity.
In “that day,” I will either be singing with
the Lord upon His throne, or I will be standing among the
multitude, far out from the throne, “weeping,”
because I now realize that I missed my opportunity to attain.
It is in this present time that we have opportunity to qualify
for the kingdom. The apostle Paul understood this. Therefore,
he said that he was pressing toward this prize.
May we also be among the wise, as was Paul.