“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than than is laid which is Jesus Christ Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” I Corinthians 3:10-15
People want to believe that heaven is the same for everyone. Most of what we know about heaven is conjecture, and for this reason we assume that it will surpass our expectations. For example, the apostle said, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love.”1 People reading this assume that Paul affirms their convictions that heaven will be so great it is beyond their wildest imaginings. In reality, Paul teaches in this passage that our minds cannot comprehend what God has not revealed.
What little the Bible does say about heaven ensures us that it will not be the same for all. The I Corinthians 3 passage illustrates the plethora of teaching on this subject. Note a couple of other passages affirming the same thing. “Lay not up yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”2 “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”3
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, note his words to slaves “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ, But he that does wrong shall receive the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”4 Because all of Christ’s followers are His slaves, these words apply to us as well.
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1 I Corinthians 2:9 2 Matthew 6:19-20 3 II Corinthians 5:10 4 Colossians 3:22-25
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