The proper reward for following Christ is to be with Him and become like Him. Heaven is a proper reward because it is the very best outcome of living a surrendered life. That is why we seek, because we long to find. It's not selfish. It's not tacked on. The rewards Jesus offers to his followers in the Gospels are the consummation of our lives here. We shouldn't feel any embarrassment about living today, motivated by a desire to receive a heavenly reward. That's the highest, best outcome of our new life.
Heb. 11:1-3: "People who say such things (living as strangers here) show that they are looking for a country of their own...they are longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."Living a life of faith for the hope and promise of heaven is a pure motive, because it is the consummation of our desire to be with God, to be pleasing to him. Moses lived his life for his heavenly reward:
"Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." Heb. 11:24
"Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection." Heb. 11:27-40It seems that our desires for heaven and the Lord's reward cannot be too strong.
Reflection #6 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory
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