One cannot begin to know the Father's will in a given situation without
first knowing his purpose for the creation of humanity and his purpose
for calling one to salvation; therefore, some of the first things one
must study in order to know his will concern one's eternal salvation and
rewards for living a righteous life."He will give eternal life to those
who patiently do the will of God, seeking for the unseen glory and
honor and eternal life that he offers"(Rom.2:7 LBP). See also
Matt.19:16-17; Lk.10:25-27; 18:18-20."Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust
thereof:but he that does the will of God abides forever"(1.Jn.2:15-17
KJV).The Bible defines the desire to do and practice evil as "lust and
the pride of life".
It is this lust to gratify the flesh, that is in
opposition to God's purpose for one's life and has an adverse effect
upon one's spiritual character. The lusts of the flesh only give
temporary satisfaction, but the performance of God's will in one's life
brings eternal rewards:"He will give eternal life to those who
patiently do the will of God, seeking for the unseen glory and honor and
eternal lifethat he offers"(Rom.2:7 LBP). See also Matt.19:16-17;
Lk.10:25-27; 18:18-20.It is the Father's purpose to give eternal life to
everyone who accepts his offer of salvation through the sacrificial
blood of his first-born son Jesus Christ and then live according to his
laws, precepts, and principles."The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance"(2.Pet.3:9 KJV). See also Psa.136:1-16; Jn.6:37-40;
1.Tim.2:4.
Although God the Father is concerned about all of his human creation, at this moment in time, he is most concerned about those he has chosen to become the first sons of his new creation.The following are some of the many rewards that the Father has reserved for his elect children who diligently seek and perform his will in their lives:
*.Their names will remain in the Book of Life (Phil.4:3)
*.They will be eternal and immortal spirit-beings in the God family (Lk.18:2,9; Rom.2:7)
*.They will be joint-heirs with Christ (Rom.8:16-18) *.They will inherit all things (Rev.21:7)
*.They will inherit the earth (Psa.37:9)
*.They will inherit the Kingdomof God (Matt.25:31-34)
*.They will have access to New Jerusalem (Rev.22:14)
*.They will be co-rulers with Christ over the Kingdom of God (Rev.2:26-27)
*.They will be kings and priests in the Kingdom of God (Rev.1:4-6)
This
list contains only a few of the enormous rewards that the Father has
promised to his first-born children. The magnitude of the rewards
for those who do the Father's will in their lives and obtain salvation
is so far beyond our imaginations and dreams that it defies human
comprehension:"But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear
heard, neitherhave entered into the heart of man, the things which
God has prepared for them that love him"(1.Cor.2:9 KJV).