For me one of the most difficult things to even begin to grasp is the nature of our eternal lives! If there's anything I take entirely on Faith, that's it! I have a very strong hunch there will be animal type creatures in heaven that if we even saw them now it would cause a total mental meltdown. The description of some of the cohort of various types of 'angels' is enough to blow your mind just thinking about it! As to the nature of beings, humans, that's a puzzler too.
There's many times in Scripture that it's written we shall 'Rule & reign with Him' and that begs the very fundamental question already mentioned: 'Rule & Reign' over WHOM!??? Hey, if every single 'person' as humans that make it through the pearlies is saved, then what's up with that?
Far as I'm concerned, that's where Holiness Doctrine comes in! Now, I'm one that in my opinion fails miserably there, despite woking at it every instant of every day. I think part of that is because I was so grossly & horribly & insanely ROTTEN TO THE CORE before I was saved. Even my closest friends, because nowadays those are fairly nice people, can't imagine what I used to be, because they can't imagine even being like that! But now I'm a new creation and thankfully, that disgusting old man is dead, dead, dead!
Back to the point: I'm guessing from Scripture's hints that various doctrines that seem to contradict are quite compatible. Those who sit smugly in 'Eternal Security' and use it like a condom will get their reward. Others who MOVE within 'Eternal Security', secure in their salvation, but continuously striving after goodness will get their reward, and it will be much greater.
Obviously, Jesus recognizes exellence in our spirit's drive toward righteousness. That's why we're continually, over & over, encouraged to 'live right'. There WILL BE a huge reward for that, above other's rewards, eternally.
Others fall into, "If you just believe, you're saved & that's it." Okay, fine, that's true, you're saved. But with virtually zero effort after that, and not caring enough to do much of anything about anything spiritual or related to living after godliness to please the Lord, you'll get your reward: eternal life, period, no Deluxe Package.
We know that God is Perfect: so He MUST be Perfectly Fair in all his dealings. The more you give, the more you will receive, it's only fair! King David gave all, like so many other Bible Greats, and they will be in the highest parts of the upper rooms, seated on the Throne beside their Mighty God who rules over all. Others, because of their empty, measly, basically selfish contributions toward God will be saved, but they will be far below, and ruled over. Can't be any other way.
