Have you ever been so appreciative of someone’s kindness that you wanted to lavish your goodness upon them? Well, our Lord feels that way too. He wants to lavish His goodness upon all those who truly love Him.
When Jesus was talking about His second coming in Matthew 16:27, He described what He would do for those who loved Him. He said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.”
The word “recompense” is a Greek compound word that means to give away or pay back, to recompense or requite or reward. In other words, at the coming of Christ each person will get what they deserve. If you love Him, He will express His love to you.
My wife and I spent the year of our engagement 1,000 miles apart. She was in Chicago finishing up nurse’s training and I was in New York. We wrote letters and talked on the telephone — it was a long year. But, finally I stood at the front of the church in Wheaton, Illinois and watched my bride walk down the isle. My heart swelled with joy as she pledged her love to me and became my wife.
Now, in a greater sense, it will be that way in the second coming of Jesus. We are betrothed to Him, but for now He is away preparing a place for us. Then one day He will appear for those who love Him and it will be a day of great splendor and incredible glory! At that moment, to hear Him express His love toward us will be the greatest recompense we could ever imagine. “…and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.”
So, are you faithful to the Lord? When you see Him, you will really wish you had been!