In 2000, the movie Gladiator came out. Set at the end of the second century, it starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Meridius, who becomes a tragic hero after being a highly successful general in the Roman army.

The movie begins at the height of his success. Maximus leads his soldiers in a battle against the pagan Germanic tribes. In the minds of Maximus, his soldiers, and the citizens of Rome, the members of these tribes are morally reprehensible people who prevent the order and civility that Rome offers the world. It is a brutal fight, and the general is pictured as a man who both cares for his soldiers and bravely leads them in battle while sharing their hardships.

How would a military leader in that situation motivate his soldiers? What would he say to them? He gives a speech to his subordinate leaders immediately before riding into the conflict. He wants them to courageously meet the uncivilized enemy on the other side of the forest. Their motivation for doing so is best summarized by his parting words: “Remember: What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

Maximus tells these men that if they do their duty and are killed in battle, they will wake up in the Elysian Fields. This is a reference to the Greek afterlife. These fields were the place where the heroically virtuous would dwell forever. It would be a special place of honor where those who faithfully did what was right, not matter the cost, would be rewarded in unique ways.

Maximus’ speech basically used eternal rewards as a motivation for his men to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. I don’t know if soldiers in the Roman legions in the second century believed the Elysian Fields were an actual place. The movie might not be historically accurate. Maximus’ words are certainly not Biblically accurate! But if those soldiers believed in such a place and such rewards, it would provide a very powerful motivation for the hardships and dangers they faced.

We must admit, as well, that the idea of such rewards is logical. If any person believes in an afterlife and the existence of gods who are just, it stands to reason that good works would be rewarded. A soldier under Maximus, fighting in the snow in a distant land in order to bring order and peace in a world of chaos, would be looked upon more favorably by the gods than a man who stayed in Rome in comfort and ease. That brave soldier thought he would be given a special inheritance in the most beautiful part of the world to come. In the movie, at least, Maximus’ speech had its proper effect. The Roman soldiers willingly rode and marched into battle.

Of course, we should not get our theology from a movie like Gladiator or from what Greek poets or Roman generals thought. But the NT does teach that there will be rewards in the eternal kingdom that Christ will establish. Everyone who has believed in Jesus for eternal life will be in that kingdom. However, those who faithfully serve Him will, in addition, receive special rewards and an inheritance in that kingdom.

Those in the Free Grace movement promote this idea of rewards. We find it throughout the Scriptures (Matt 5:12; Rom 8:17; 1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 22:12; etc.). We recognize, however, that many Evangelicals reject this teaching. Even though it is found in the words of Christ and His apostles, they maintain that the Bible does not teach such a concept.

I must admit, that befuddles me. I cannot understand how they can’t see what is clearly written on the pages of the NT. I realize that it is because of their traditions and what they have been taught. It’s as if they have blinders on.

But another thing that baffles me about this subject is someone’s saying something like: “I don’t believe in rewards because it doesn’t make sense.” A statement like this is often followed by an explanation about the justice of God. He would not make any distinctions among His people in His kingdom. It would not be fair. Everybody must be equal in a perfect kingdom.

Basically, people who hold this position maintain that eternal rewards are illogical.

Such arguments can only come from the blindness produced by religious traditions and a refusal to take the words of Scripture literally. The most important consideration is that Jesus and His Word tell us that rewards will be a reality in the world to come. But we could also add that such rewards are clearly logical. They are so logical that even a fictional Roman general in a movie, blinded by pagan unbelief, could state the obvious.