Guaranteed Unending Returns
Bible Nugget 0308 [Luke 18 V 28 – 30, KJV]
28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
God is a giver; he does not owe any man or woman. He gave his very best, His only begotten Son. The desire of God is for us to give back to him. First of ourselves and then our substance. Returns in the investment of anything good into the kingdom of God are very rewarding. Investments are guaranteed because God’s storehouses are inexhaustible. Psalm 50: 9-12 reads:
9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
From v12, it is clear that that, the world is an entire estate owned by God. So the challenge thrown to Peter and to every person by Jesus is; if you invest in God’s estate of reconciling the lost world back to God, you get manifold returns. It is a totally risk-free investment, with only one requirement; faith.
Peter’s question in v28 was a result of the discuss Jesus ha with a rich, young ruler. The story is told in Luke 18:18-24 but lets look at the same record in Mark 10: 17
17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
v21 says Jesus loved this man. He saw the great potential the man had. He looked at him and saw in him a Matthew, who wrote the first book in the New Testament. Matthew was also very rich, but had acquired his wealth by illegal tax collection. Matthew left all to follow Jesus. The constraint the young rich ruler had was the inability to part with his possessions. The rich young ruler was unaware that both himself and possessions belong to God (psalm 50 v12). Today, we have many philanthropic persons and organizations promoting one good course or the other. My prayer is that God will continue to bless them in Jesus Name.
The returns in the life hereafter is even more rewarding: Eternal life. The perks include living forever, having eaten of the tree of life (Rev 22: 1-5); seeing God face to face (which no person can do now because of the nature of sin); a mansion in heaven (John 14:1-3); seating with Christ in the heaven lies and ruling over principalities and powers and over all those who died in their sins (all who will be in hell); and living in absolute bliss. No more sin, no more sorrow. The whole world would then be reconciled to God after the creation of a new heaven and a new earth during the millennial reign of Christ and the Saints. A wolf will lie down side by side with a lamb (Isaiah 65:17-25). Would you not prefer this unquantifiable returns?
Prayer Nugget 0308
1. Pray a prayer of consecration. “Lord, I give my self to you. I consecrate my heart, soul body, mind and intellect to you. Let me be a faithful servant who is only interested in his master’s business in Jesus name. You first Jesus. I will not abandon my responsibility to my family in Jesus Name. Lord give me the wisdom to discern, please you and engage in the work of your kingdom at all times in Jesus Name.”
2. Lord fill my heart with the glories of heaven. I become more and more heavenly minded in Jesus Name.
3. Lord let my dreams be dreams of your kingdom. Let me have open visions of heaven in Jesus name.
4. Lord help me to be fisher of men. Use me as a vessel to lead others to Christ and promote the work of the gospel. Let me be a channel of blessing to people; the rich and the poor, the saint and the sinner and use me to reconcile the world back to you, Almighty God in Jesus Name. Amen.
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