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I occasionally try to picture what Heaven is like. I read a book a dozen years ago by Randy Alcorn simply titled “Heaven.” Shortly after reading it I created my own PowerPoint (I see Randy has posted his here) and presented the subject to a group of high school students while away on a mission trip to Mexico. Later, I read their comment cards and the one that stuck with me after all this time is one student’s realization that as a Christian, his eternal life had already begun! He did not have to die to begin his everlasting life. Sure his location would change one day, but his relationship with his Creator was already perfected in Christ.

While I’ve certainly forgotten much of what I read in Randy’s book, the question of differential reward has stuck with me. Here is the question; Is heaven the same for everyone or might we be rewarded differently for how we perform in this life; more for going above, less for ignoring commissions like “go and make disciples of the world”.

I’m not talking about getting INTO heaven. I know for certain the Bible is very clear that our good deeds or works will not merit us access to heaven. But do over achievers receive something extra once in heaven? If so, before I can even think about this I first have to assume my glorified self will be purged of envy and hurt so I won’t resent “that guy?!” for getting a greater reward than me. Perhaps he will sit a little closer to the King during feasts? Will he rule over cities on the new earth or perhaps proctor classes for those attending the many varied educational programs conducted for newcomers and seasoned beings alike?

While the Bible does not explicitly say one person’s experience/existence in heaven will be different from another’s, this does not deter me from attempting to find scriptural inferences in regard to this question.

I find these references particularly intriguing:

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

This reference could easily be interpreted as apply to the earthly living. I find it noteworthy that most of the Old Testament promised only earthly reward for right living and following God’s commandments. “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God…” Deuteronomy 28 (Moses ~1400BC)

Not until The Book of Daniel do we find a promise of eternal life; “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” – Daniel 12:2, (~600 BC)

How about this one: Matthew 16:27 – “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” This is echoed in Paul’s letter to the Romans 2:6 – “God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” We know Paul can’t be talking about getting into Heaven, because he writes in his letter to the Ephesians “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Matthew captures Jesus telling the Parable of the Talents with the phrase “for it will be like…” where it is the Kingdom of heaven. Clearly Jesus paints a picture that there are different expectations based on different talents and consequently different rewards for properly utilizing those talents.

Finally, there are “the five crowns”. If you’ve never heard it put this way, watch this video from the folks at “GotQuestions.com”, one of my favorite go-to sites for biblically sound answers to my many questions. In a nutshell there are references to receiving crowns in books by John, Peter, and Paul like this one in 1 Peter 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” Are these references to be interpreted as literal crowns which once in heaven we’ll joyously wear atop our glorified bodies like accomplished athletes sporting gold medals? I don’t know but the behavior for which these crowns are offered is what is clearly pleasing to the Father and that which you and I should aspire to do.

My conclusion is I’m not sure if there is different rewards for different heavenly residents. I’m not a Christian because I hope for the reward of eternal life and certainly not a reward in proportion to my infinitesimal contributions to the Kingdom. I am a Christian because I was chosen by God before the creation of the world (Ephesians). The reason I was chosen is a mystery but I eagerly value this gift of grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit recognize it as a pearl of great price for which I would sell everything to purchase it. While that gesture is unnecessary, what is necessary is faith, sustained by an indwelling Holy Spirit who encourages an ongoing immersion in God’s word and accompanies this effort with a joyful speculation that its beautiful truths may be revealed to me. This endeavor of research, reading, and speculation is certainly more fun, rewarding, and worthwhile than playing fantasy football! 

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Writers Block