Matthew 19:26-30; Proverbs 10:19
NT: “Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:28-30 CSB)
While salvation is given to us as a gift, there is a cost to following Jesus. As sin, Satan, and the world system have to release the hold they have on you, we also must release the hold that we have on things that compete for our devotion and allegiance to Christ. We can’t stay free and still hold on to the things we were once entangled in. While we may have to lay down things and walk away from relationships as a sacrifice – in the end, we aren’t really sacrificing, we are investing. Jesus said that for those who faithfully follow Him, whatever they sacrifice on earth in order to full follow Him will be rewarded 100 times more in the life to come – and will inherit eternal life on top of that. People sacrifice for all sorts of things. Doctors sacrifice years of their life in school so that they can earn that coveted PhD. Businessmen sacrifice money and relationships to build their successful businesses. Many who sacrificed to climb the ladder of success and be first here in this life will find that they will come last in the life to come, for their sacrifices were not for eternal things. Those who humble themselves and give their lives for Kingdom purposes and appear to have so little to their name in this life will be first in the eternal life to come.
Jamie Hicks 