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The greatest reward offered to the overcomer is not immortality. Rather, it is the privilege of living in the very presence of Yahuwah in His coming kingdom on earth. When you exercise your faith to accept salvation, preparatory to living with Yah, that very act is accounted to you for righteousness.
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Sin separates the soul from the Creator. Paul described Yahuwah as “The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.” (1 Timothy 6:15-16, KJV) When Moses, awestruck by the beauty of the divine character, begged to see Yahuwah face-to-face, Yahuwah patiently explained, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20, NKJV)
Such a being, so high and lofty, so incomprehensibly holy that He dwells in unapproachable light is not someone to whom a fallen sinner can relate. Yahushua did more than die for sinners: his life, as a fully human, non-divine member of the human race, revealed what the Father would be like if He were a human being.
Yahushua accepting mothers and children reveals the Father with arms wide open to receive those society overlooks.
Yahushua saying, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more,” presents the Father with a warm, understanding smile, ready and eager to forgive.
Yahushua healing the sick and comforting the broken hearted, displays the Father stooping to embrace humanity, helping wherever He can.
It is this revelation of the Father’s character of infinite love that prepares human hearts for the reward that awaits the righteous:
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of Yahuwah is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. Yahuwah Himself will be with them and be their God. And Yah will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (See Revelation 21:3-4.)
To be able to live in the very presence of the Almighty; to look on that face of indescribable purity and infinite love … this is the reward of the righteous. The good news that Yahushua declared was that, the soul-preparation that transforms the sinner into a child of Yah, able to gaze on the Father’s countenance face to face, is a gift of divine grace. This gift is available to every human being, no matter how far sunken in sin, who will simply accept it by faith.
Romans 3:10 states unequivocally: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (KJV) Righteousness is conformity to the divine law. You cannot transform yourself from a sinful rebel into a righteous person. Neither can I. But Yahuwah can. All you have to do is to let your faith grasp the promise and the reality is yours instantly!
Paul, who took the gospel message to the gentiles, explained this incredible transaction of grace to the believers in Rome.
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed Yahuwah, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom Yahuwah imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom Yahuwah shall not impute sin.” (See Romans 4:3-8.)
In other words, when you stretch out the hand of faith to accept salvation, that very faith is accounted to you for righteousness!
Let that sink in for a moment: the very act of accepting salvation by faith is accounted to you for righteousness.
You do not have to do anything to earn it. In fact, there is nothing you can do to earn it. All you can do is accept it by faith. And that very faith you exercise to accept the gift is, itself, also a gift!
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as Yahuwah has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (See Romans 12:3.)
Once you exercise the faith you have been given and accept Yahuwah’s gift of the imputed righteousness of Yahushua, Yahuwah then recreates you into His own image. Again, this is not something you can do for yourself. This work is Yahuwah’s and His alone.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. (Ezekiel 36:25-29, NKJV)
Yahuwah has provided you with literally everything you need in order to be saved.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV)
It’s up to you: choose to accept the gift Yahuwah is offering you. The Father is waiting with indescribable longing to impute to you the righteousness of Christ. When you accept this gift, His joy will know no bounds. He will be so happy, that His joy will overflow into singing:
Yahuwah has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
The King of Israel, Yahuwah, is in your midst;
You shall see disaster no more.
Yahuwah your Elohim in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.” (See Zephaniah 3:15 and 17.)
Accept this gift and you will stand before Yahuwah in the perfection of Yahushua. Yahuwah will then rejoice over you with singing.
