We Win Therefore What Shall We Have?

INTRO: In this world of sin it is easy to get our values distorted . Property, money, material possessions, or a large bank account material things they all seem to give us a sense of security, but it is all a dream. We came into this world with nothing and it is certain we will go out with no material possessions

Jesus has promised us eternal life if only we believe on Him and determine to dedicate our lives to Him. So many are throwing away eternity because they consider this world more important, their values are all mixed up. This was the dilemma of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus.

He was a wealthy man, and a young man. His eyes were set on religious matters - on teachers, eternal life, good deeds. He had the look of a seeker: he seemed willing to listen and eager to learn. He seemed a disciple-in-the-making.

But his story has a dark end. It was he that inspired Jesus famous words "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom."

It was at this point when the disciples heard this, “Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

SCRIP: Matt 19: 27-30

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

PRAY

I don’t know about you, but I stand here this morning in my right mind, little older, a little grayer, little sorer! But Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.

In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asks what good it is for a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?  To gain the whole world to receive all the world has to offer, money, fame, pleasure, power, prestige. To lose one’s soul to die without a right relationship with Christ.

Matthew 16:26 NKJV

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?

Have you counted the cost, its not worth it! I don’t care what the world offers, when you have Jesus, you have it all. Joy, Peace, Happiness Deliverance and Salvation!

There is nothing more valuable than your soul. To trade that away is foolishness. When a person chooses to embrace this world instead of heaven, he is forfeiting their soul. If a person rejects Christ for the sake of anything in this life, you will lose your soul.

Esau despised his birthright, choosing stew instead; Judas sold the Savior for a few pieces of silver; Demas loved this present world and forsook the ministry. All three men thought they were gaining something but actually lost everything.

Therefore What Shall We Have?

Jesus speaks directly to the question, "Assuredly" telling them of the believers reward. Following Jesus, means we win!

Matt 19:28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Lord is saying to every believer, every blood bought man, woman and child. If you have believed on me:

John 11:23-26 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Regeneration is rebirth, being “born again.” Our rebirth is distinguished from our first birth, when we were conceived physically we inherited the sin nature. In our new birth we inherit a  spiritual, holy,heavenly birth that results in our being made alive spiritually. Regeneration is a radical change. Its the answer to Peters question, the question that every believer has asked, “Therefore what shall we have.”Just as our physical birth resulted in a new individual entering the earthly realm, our spiritual birth results in a new person entering the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:6 And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus

After regeneration, after being born again we begin to see and hear and seek after divine things; we begin to live a life of faith and holiness. After the new birth, Christ is formed in our hearts; now we are partakers of the divine nature, having been made new creatures.

2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!

In other words we win, we win, we win! Don’t give up, don’t give out out and don’t give in! Our reward is on its way!

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

After the rich young man turned away from Jesus, unable to give up his great wealth,unable to give of the things of the world. The disciples asked the Lord what reward they would have.Jesus promised them “a hundred times as much,” plus eternal life, But then, He said, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”.

Understand, rich is not only reflected in silver and gold, but in putting more value on the things of this world, than in Christ!

What exactly did Jesus mean? Jesus was not teaching that the way to get to heaven is to live a life of poverty, Jesus was not teaching an automatic reversal of roles in heaven.

But rather, that God, who sees the heart, will reward accordingly. The disciples are an example of those who may be first, and they happened to be poor, but their poverty was not what makes them first in heaven. The rich young ruler is an example of those who may be last, and he happened to be rich, but his wealth was not what makes him last.

All believers, no matter how long or how hard they serve will receive the same basic reward: eternal life! The thief on the cross whose life of service was limited to a moment of repentance and confession of faith in Christ, received the same reward of eternal life as did Timothy, who served God for years.

Scripture also teaches that there are different rewards in heaven for different services, but the ultimate reward of eternal life will be given to all equally, on the basis of God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

Judas Iscariot was one of the first disciples, honored as treasurer of the group, yet his greed led to his undoing; Paul was the last of the apostles yet according to 2 Corinthians 11:23 he worked the hardest.

CONCLUSION: Therefore what shall we have?” We might paraphrase it like this: “We’ve given up a lot to be here. Is it really worth it?” Some people today might ask the same thing. We have given up a lot, careers, families, jobs, status, pride, in our spiritual journey.

Is it worth it? Is there some sort of reward in store for us? I stopped by this morning to encourage you. Our labors and sacrifices are not in vain. In other words, we need to be willing to give up every earthly thing in order to gain everything!

The Psalmist put it this way: “You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy;At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.(Ps 16:11).

John described it like this:”And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”(Revelation 21:4)

Isaiah described some of this joy when he predicted a nation returning to its land: “The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). We will be in the presence of God, and we will be happier than we have ever been.

Exceedingly great rewards What God has in store for us is beyond our ability to imagine. Even in this life, the love of God is beyond our ability to understand (Ephesians 3:19). The peace of God is beyond our comprehension (Philippians 4:7), and his joy is beyond our ability to put into words (1 Peter 1:8). How much more, then, is it impossible to describe how good it will be to live with God forever?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, and for me!

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor 2:9