So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother [c]or wife or children or [d]lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, withpersecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
The verses above are self-explanatory, but someone may have a query or concern. So let’s go further into this theme.
The choice to follow Christ is yours to make. God does not make it for you! Otherwise, all of us would have been candidates for heaven, but no. Some choose not to follow Christ.
Is it because everything seems to be going just fine in your life? And you have completely different aspirations for your future? Or are you scared of letting go of your old life or the fun the world offers that you will have to forego?
Jesus Himself solemnly warns that there is a price to pay. As for you who think you have it all together already…
24 And again I say to you, 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.”
It’s not that God wants you to trade off everything you have in your life, but to prioritize. God doesn’t mean stop every single thing you are doing and only follow Him! Let’s use wisdom here. Don’t be fooled by these boastful religious teachers, soaked and corrupted with sanctimonious teachings.
Jesus was trying to tell you to do one simple thing: prioritize. Let your heart now be more concerned about His word and upholding it than trying to fulfill your carnal desires. However, if you can’t choose Him over your carnal desires, then it will be very hard for a person of your nature to make it to His kingdom.
Those things you trust in—whether money, luxurious cars, gorgeous partners, or whatever else—are but fleeting desires. So why not put your trust in that which is real and eternal?
One that will never betray you, like a partner might in difficult times.
That fame you desire to attain is but emptiness. Turn away from such things and come get real life—eternity through Christ.
As He puts it in Matthew 16:25-26
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
You who think that your life will be more successful if you are of the world are only deceiving yourself. God promises not only a hundredfold but also eternity.
Of all those things you desire (fame, money, lust, etc.), which of these can secure eternal life?
You may get a good life indeed, but there is no meaning in these. This life of ours is like an open-ended pipe. And this void can only be filled by God.
Real Wealth: A Pearl of Great Value
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
That is what it looks like: sacrificing certain aspects of your life to follow Christ. Putting away your sinful nature and carnal desires to follow Christ with all your heart, soul, and body.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)
Initially, it may seem like it’s not worth it, and your life may be doing just fine. Following God may just seem like an unnecessary hurdle. However, not a single soul has come out to confirm that following God is not worth it. Those who claim otherwise, I have found, didn’t even know Him—God. They are fooled and taken advantage of by religion.
Although, on the contrary, don’t think God will give you now your earthly desires (i.e., money, fame, cars, etc.). God’s promise is eternal life, although even earthly treasures may be entrusted to you as well, if you prove to be a trustworthy servant.
Join me in the next article to show you which kind of servants God entrusts with these treasures (wealth, fame, influence, etc.). Here…
