Treasure, Part 4

"We have left everything to follow you!"

28^th May 2011

After Jesus said "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God", the disciples asked "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God". This so disturbed Peter that:

Mark 10v17-28
Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"

Perhaps Peter was aware that he had no more right to enter the kingdom of God than anyone else. Perhaps he thought that his position was in jeopardy. Maybe for the first time he wondered if it had all been worth it. He had left his fishing business, his home and family and friends, to follow Jesus. Now he hears that for him to enter the kingdom of God is "impossible" but that "all things are possible with God".

This sounds like our entering the kingdom requires a miracle, and it does. Had Jesus not risen from the dead, our sins would still be on our own heads (Romans 4v25). If God had not given us faith to believe in Jesus's redeeming blood, we could not have been saved (Ephesians 2v8). If God had not made us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5v17-18), we would not be fit to enter his presence.

Christians can forget what an amazing work of God was required for them to become Christians at all.

But Jesus made Peter - and us - a far greater promise:

Mark 10v29-30
"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

For those who have made real sacrifice to follow Jesus, every church is their home and every Christian is their brother or sister, or father or mother or child, as I hope you have discovered, or will discover if you have to move home. And the meek shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5v5).

I have received from God far more than I deserve, far more than I ever gave to him. Yet I know there are many unhappy Christians around. And this makes it difficult for us to understand Jesus's words. His promise is that "no-one... will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age... and in the age to come, eternal life". This sounds beyond the experience of many Christians but we must remember the condition for receiving this promise, which is to have "left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel". I can only think that:

• For some who have made great sacrifices for God, God has reserved an even greater reward than the one promised, and when we receive it, we will understand and rejoice;
• Many have not left everything to follow Jesus. We have merely co-opted Jesus into our existing lifestyle.

Perhaps the greatest gift we receive is faith to believe in the blood of Jesus, the faith through which we enter the kingdom of God. But have we also received the faith to leave everything in order to follow wherever Jesus sends us, to do what ever Jesus commands us, to live however Jesus desires of us? And if we have, why are we not exercising it?

The greatest rewards await those who yield everything to Jesus, and follow Him.

What is God calling you to give up? And what destiny awaits you if you will trust Him and obey?