I know that this is a scab that I really shouldn’t pick.
“I could choose to stray and become a slacker for a while, but God would either bring me around, or He would take me home before my salvation was lost. And, yes, I would assume that my reward in Heaven would be lesser for the time I gave up praying.”
Please fill me in on this. How is the Heavenly reward less?
No problem. While I do have "some" scabs, as probably do we all, this isn't one for me. :)
The answer is that I have no idea EXACTLY what form Heavenly rewards will take, separate from salvation of course, but scripture gives us some clues that there will be differences:
Matt 5:11-12 : 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ...... ["in Heaven" can be taken either way, but it seems to me to match much better with when we are told that martyrs have a special place (reward) in Heaven. (Revelation 6:9-11)]
Matt 10:42 : And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." ...... [Either I'm right or Catholicism collapses! :)]
Matt 16:27 : For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. ...... [Same thing, if "reward" means salvation, then you must believe in a completely works-based salvation model.]
Again, I have no idea how this will actually work, especially since I can't imagine wanting for anything in Heaven. Perhaps there will be different responsibilities there, or different opportunities, I don't know. However, there is enough weight in scripture to say that deeds count for "something". I just don't think they count for salvation.