If God rewarded the righteous immediately, we would soon be engaged in business, not godliness...we would be pursuing not piety,but profit.
Clement of Alexandria'Eat my flesh,' Jesus says, 'and drink my blood.' The Lord supplies us with these intimate nutrients, he delivers over his flesh and pours out his blood, and nothing is lacking for the growth of his children
Clement of AlexandriaFor the Divine Being cannot be declared as it exists: but as we who are fettered in the flesh were able to listen, so the prophets spake to us; the Lord savingly accommodating Himself to the weakness of men.
Clement of Alexandria