Seen by Heaven
When the Books Are Opened • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsWhy Faithfulness Matters More Than You Think
Notes
Transcript
Reading from God’s Word
Reading from God’s Word
10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
11 Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end,
12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Introduction
Introduction
Two weeks ago, we looked at the great white throne scene in Revelation 20.
We talked about the day when “the books are opened” and every life is laid bare before God.
Nothing is hidden from Him.
No bad thing we do, word we speak, or motive.
But it also reminds us that nothing good is forgotten.
The Judge we saw in Revelation is the same Father who watches every act of faith, every quiet sacrifice, every moment of obedience that no one else notices.
There’s a quiet promise in Scripture that ought to strengthen every tired son or daughter of God: Our Lord sees you.
He notices every act of service,
every moment of love,
every choice you make to honor Him when no one else is watching.
What we just read in Hebrews 6:10 is powerful.
We live in a world where much of what we do feels overlooked or unappreciated. But heaven keeps better records than earth ever could.
Malachi also gives us a beautiful picture. He says a “scroll of remembrance” was written in God’s presence for those who feared Him and valued His name.
God saw their struggles.
He heard their prayers.
He knew their hearts.
And He made sure nothing was lost.
I think it is important to remember that our labor for the Lord is not in vain.
Faithfulness is never wasted.
Love is never forgotten.
Perseverance is never overlooked.
The King we serve writes down what His people do for Him, and He rewards those who stay steady.
So today we want to lift our eyes from the discouragement of the moment to the certainty of God’s promise.
God knows all about your faithfulness.
And those who live for the kingdom today will rejoice when their record is revealed tomorrow.
God’s Ledger is Gracious
God’s Ledger is Gracious
Better Things That Pertain to Salvation
Better Things That Pertain to Salvation
Heb 6 is a hard chapter. It warns against falling away, speaking directly to the danger of drifting away from Christ.
But note here in v. 9 how he makes it clear that he doesn’t believe this is the story of this group of Christians.
9 Even though we are speaking this way, dearly loved friends, in your case we are confident of things that are better and that pertain to salvation.
He says, we are confident of things that are better.
Better things that point to life, not death.
Things that reveal genuine faith, not empty profession.
Things that belong to people who are saved.
What are those better things?
What are those better things?
He will tell us in v. 10.
Works of love, service, and continued faithfulness.
Ordinary, quiet, steady acts done for the glory of God.
These are not the things that save us, they are the fruit of a life in Christ.
Now v. 10:
10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
Note that their service wasn’t mechanical.
No checking boxes here.
No people pleasing going on.
It comes from one place: A growing love for Christ.
The more you love someone, the more you will want to do their will.
You know it works that way in every relationship.
And this is the way it works with God.
If you want to love people better, don’t start with people - start with God.
If your heart is full for the love of the Lord, loving others will not be a burden.
it will be the overflow of your devotion to Him.
Let’s look again at v. 10:
10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
He mentions how they have served the saints - and are continuing to serve them.
I love that.
Not “you used to.”
Not “you did it once.”
But, “you did, and you do.”
They kept going.
Their service wasn’t something they looked back on with nostalgia.
It was real, present, and ongoing.
That is what God sees, and what He remembers.
This is what Paul spoke of in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 when speaking to encourage them:
3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
What does God see when He looks at your life and sees your works of faith?
Your labor of love?
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
Ministry Takes Many Forms
Ministry Takes Many Forms
Using your spiritual gifts.
Praying for each other.
Encouraging the weak.
Restoring the fallen.
Carrying burdens.
Giving to those in need.
Forgiving when it hurts.
Correcting in love.
All of these are acts of service - and
They all grow from your love for Christ
They all grow from your love for Christ
Look again at Hebrews 6:10:
10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
How did they express their love to God?
By serving or ministering to the saints.
The key to real service is a burning love for the Lord.
This is important - because people aren’t always that lovable.
It all comes down to how much do I love the Lord?
This is not a shallow, sentimental feeling - but a high, reverent view of who He is and a heart that wants His name honored.
God doesn’t forget this.
An Old Testament Example:
An Old Testament Example:
In Malachi 3, God was raining down words of judgment through the prophet.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach.
5 “I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless; and against those who deny justice to the resident alien. They do not fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
All these statements of judgment have His faithful people standing back — in fear.
Look at v. 16:
16 At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name.
See here how God didn’t brush their faith aside.
He didn’t overlook their trust. Instead, He ordered that a “scroll of remembrance” be written in His presence.
Heaven literally wrote down their faithfulness.
This is how God sees His people.
He notices the widow who slips a small gift into the collection.
He notices the member who sits with someone who is hurting.
He notices the parent who brings their children to worship even on hard mornings.
He notices the person who chooses purity in private.
Nothing done for His name is wasted.
Nothing done out of love is ignored.
His ledger isn’t like ours. We record the impressive. God records the faithful.
This is why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Not one thing done in faith will be lost. Not one prayer. Not one tear. Not one moment of obedience. God sees it all.
When the books are opened, every act of love you offered in secret will be brought into the light—not to shame you, but to honor you.
Because God is not unjust to forget.
Faithfulness is Never Wasted
Faithfulness is Never Wasted
Don’t Stop Now
Don’t Stop Now
11 Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end,
After reminding them that God remembers their love, the Hebrew writer goes one step further: he calls them to “show the same diligence to the very end.”
In other words—don’t stop now.
Keep the same fire, the same heart, the same devotion that marked your earlier service.
The Christian life is not a moment. It’s a direction.
It’s not what we did once; it’s what we keep doing because we still love the Lord.
Don’t Grow Lazy
Don’t Grow Lazy
12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
We all know that feeling—faith becomes routine, the excitement fades, and the pressure of life wears you down.
After a while, you find yourself doing less, caring less, praying less, giving less.
Weariness sets in.
Discouragement takes hold.
You start wondering if faithfulness even matters.
But Scripture speaks straight into that feeling: your perseverance is precious to God.
He sees the days you press on when your heart is heavy.
He sees the nights when you choose prayer over despair.
He sees the moments when you stay faithful even though the road is steep.
Heaven watches endurance with special honor.
Look again at v. 12:
12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Think of Noah building for years with no rain in sight.
Think of Joseph holding onto integrity in prison.
Think of Anna waiting decades in the temple.
Think of Paul pressing on through pain and persecution.
None of them saw quick results.
None of them had an easy path.
But all of them inherited what God promised—because they kept going when everything in them said to quit.
Faith that endures is the faith God rewards.
Faith that endures is the faith God rewards.
Not perfect faith. Not dramatic faith.
Steady faith. Faith that keeps walking.
Nothing done in faith is ever wasted.
No act of obedience.
No moment of righteousness.
No prayer whispered in the dark.
No quiet stand for the truth.
No tear shed while trusting God.
Heaven records perseverance as clearly as it records service.
And when the record is opened, you will not regret one single step of faithfulness.
Gratitude Fuels Endurance
Gratitude Fuels Endurance
Faithfulness is not just about grit.
Faithfulness is not just about grit.
It doesn’t grow in a cold heart.
It grows in a grateful one.
A thankful heart has strength that a bitter heart never will.
When we look back & remember who God is, and what He has done, we find power to keep going.
When we forget His goodness, everything feels heavier than it really is.
Hebrews 6 says we remain faithful by “holding on to the full assurance of hope.”
Here’s v. 11 again:
11 Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end,
Gratitude is what gives that assurance depth. It fills us with hope.
It reminds us that God has already been good to us, already carried us, already forgiven us, already supplied what we lacked.
He has carried us through battles we thought would break us.
He has forgiven our sins.
He has answered our prayers.
He is given mercy continually.
He has richly blessed us with blessings we never deserve.
Thankfulness pulls our eyes off the weight of the moment and puts them back on the faithfulness of God.
And when we stop long enough to remember His faithfulness, it becomes so much easier to remain faithful to Him.
God Treasures Those who Fear Him
God Treasures Those who Fear Him
Now, back to Malachi:
17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies, “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
He claims us as His own.
Gratitude grows when we remember who we belong to.
We are not abandoned.
We are not forgotten.
We are not on our own.
We are God’s. And if He holds us as His treasure, then we can endure anything that comes.
18 So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
A thankful heart keeps steady because it has something solid to stand on.
It knows God has never failed.
It knows every blessing is a reminder of His care.
It knows that even in hardship, God is working for our good.
Gratitude clears the fog and brings us back to truth.
This is why Thanksgiving week matters—not for the meal, not for the football, but for the pause.
It forces us to stop and look back at how the Lord has walked with us.
And gratitude becomes fuel.
It strengthens tired hands.
It steadies weak knees.
It reminds us that the same God who has carried us this far will carry us the rest of the way.
When heaven records faithfulness, it’s not only counting what we’ve done—it’s seeing the heart behind it. And thankful hearts are the ones that keep going.
As We Close:
As We Close:
When we think about judgment, we often imagine the weight of standing before God.
But Hebrews and Malachi bring a different picture.
They show us a Father:
who sees every act of love
remembers every step of obedience
writes down “the better things that belong to salvation.”
Hebrews tells us God is not unjust to forget.
He doesn’t overlook the small things
He doesn’t forget the hard days
He doesn’t ignore the quiet, hidden faithfulness that no one else ever sees.
Malachi tells us He keeps a scroll of remembrance. Heaven is not only recording what we’ve done — it is preparing a reward for those who stay faithful.
Your service matters.
Your service matters.
Your endurance matters.
Your love for God matters.
Even when no one sees it.
Even when it feels small.
Even when you’re tired. God sees. God remembers.
And God will honor those who have lived for His name.
This morning, let this encourage you.
Don’t slow down.
Don’t lose heart.
Don’t let discouragement pull you away from what is right.
Keep going.
The record is being written.
And those who live for the kingdom today will rejoice when their record is revealed tomorrow.
