You will surely receive your well-deserved reward
Behold, we have forsaken all and followed you; what shall we have, therefore? Matthew 19:27.
Beloved, it is good to believe in and follow Jesus Christ. However, it is also very important to understand what we stand to gain by following Him and what we must do to become His true disciples. Knowing these things will help you continue your journey without looking back, no matter the circumstances you face.
From the chosen text, Mathew 19 vs.16 – 30, the rich man sought to know what good thing he needed to do to gain eternal life as he was aware that both hell and heaven are real. Jesus told him to keep all the commandments, which he claimed to have done. However, he later realized he had failed when Jesus revealed the last requirement—something he never expected and found very difficult to do. He was unable to share his resources with the poor as commanded by Jesus. What Jesus was essentially asking of him was to show love through giving to his fellow human beings.
The rich man had forgotten that what he had was given to him by God. His greed and unwillingness to follow Jesus’ command ultimately prevented him from gaining access to the eternal life he longed for. This same attitude led the rich man in Luke 16 vs. 19-31 to end up in hell. God also conducted the same test for Job twice through Satan. He lost all his possessions and still held on to God. He later recovered all ( Job 1 vs. 6 – 12, Job 2 vs. 1 – 6, Job 42 vs. 10 – 17). Job even took care of the poor and the less privileged people in his lifetime ( Job 29 vs. 11 – 17).
Upon hearing Jesus’ response, Peter, one of the disciples, also asked what they would gain after forsaking everything to follow Him. His question mirrored that of the rich man; he wanted to know where they needed to make amends before it was too late. Jesus, fully aware that His disciples had indeed forsaken all (John 6:67-68), answered by assuring them that eternal life would be their portion. Those disciples who could not endure the word of eternal life had earlier turned back from following Him (John 6 vs. 66).
Serving God without considering how to please Him and being mindful of our ultimate destination after death is a mere spiritual exercise that yields no good results—only hell. It is God’s will for us to reign with Christ on the last day, and this should be the aspiration of all believers. Jesus emphasized to both the rich man and the disciples that eternal life should be their final destination after death.
Moreover, Jesus pointed out that if we claim to serve the true God in any capacity, loving God and our fellow human beings as ourselves should be relatively easy as they are the first and second great commandments. (Matt. 22 vs. 36 – 40). These commandments are not dependent on one’s wealth; they must be embraced by everyone, including those in positions of authority. The rights and welfare of the poor must be prioritized by all, as God has blessed us in abundance with the necessary resources. Nothing should be beyond the reach of the poor and the less privileged in society.
Jesus wanted the rich man and the disciples to understand that wealth and possession do not guarantee anyone a place in heaven; they are meant for our comfort and enjoyment in this world alone. The requirement for entering heaven is a holy lifestyle, which begins by adhering to God’s commandments—” for without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” Jesus died for our sins so that we may no longer live in sin(1 Peter 4 vs. 1) . Accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior is not a license to continue sinning as believers.
Beloved, we must be certain that our service to God and humanity is not in vain, and we must refuse to turn back from serving God like the Apostle Paul and Peter. I, therefore admonish you to genuinely forsake any sin that could prevent you from reaching your glorious home. (Mathew 19 vs. 18 – 19 ).
In conclusion, we also learn from the chosen text that it is possible to be aware of heaven, long for it, and still miss it if you are not willing to forsake all as the rich man did. Be rest assured that whatever thing you have forsaken for Christ’s sake shall be recovered in hundredfold ( Matt.19 vs. 29), and your serving God genuinely will be rewarded in this world and eternity. Don’t be discouraged by situations and circumstances. You are and will remain an overcomer as long as you are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Remain blessed
Written by: Evangelist Alatise Sunday . O.
For free Christian Tract, Contact
Christian Tract Department
Zion’s Disciplines Christian Evangelical Ministry
P.o.Box 2796, Sapon, Abeokuta, Ogun State
08055168819, 07083307581
SOA/December/2024/36
