May 02, 2021: SOAP #4168:  1Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 19:27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at 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. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was speaking to His disciples.  He was speaking about “will be” things.  He was speaking of their future.  He was assuring them that there are rewards for following Him.  At the same time, He told them that one cannot use the world’s standards to evaluate the rewards in heaven. 

APPLICATION: The world’s standard would say Jesus was a failure; he died as a common criminal on a cross.  But it was on the cross that satan was defeated and Christ won for us the victory!   So, by the world’s standard I may be judged a failure, but it is not what “is,” but what “will be” that is important! 

Death does not end life for Leon.  I have a special relationship with death.  My sins followed me until the death of Jesus on the cross.  It was there I died to my old self to live a life with Christ living in me.  What follows my physical death is a continuation of the life of Jesus and Leon.  God does not need to give Leon any rewards he might have coming; God has all eternity to do that!   Sin, and its penalty, followed me to the cross; living for Jesus and its rewards will follow me into eternity! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, like the truth I saw in my earthly father’s life, it is worth the sacrifice to follow you!  Now he is enjoying his reward.  May the way I live today show that I too value eternity in your presence. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!