You Get It All Back!

Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake will receive a hundred fold and will inherit eternal life.

We’ve lost a lot this year with an economy that has tanked. The good news is that we are in recovery mode now. It is only a matter of time before we start seeing evidence of a turn around with people getting back on their feet, becoming employed, and folks getting back the things they had to walk away from. Many have walked away form jobs, homes, and even relatives because they had to go find employment in cities away from home.

Along with this hardship comes what Walter Bruggeman calls a “moral incongruity.” When something goes wrong we want to conclude that we did something wrong for those turn of events to happen, but when you go through “Exile” moments, there does not have to be anything that you’ve done wrong individually just because there is an experience of corporate suffering. There is not just one person responsible for this global recession, it is a global epidemic that affects us all.

Like Peter many of us are asking Jesus, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” When we choose to follow Jesus that means we also choose to walk away from certain things. We are taking the road less traveled. Sometimes we choose to do without because doing wrong to get what I need is not an option.

Jesus' promise to those who have followed Him are:
1. We will have heavenly authority when Jesus sits on the throne at the renewal of all things. To the Apostles that meant they would help Jesus judge the nations, to us it means that we walk in Kingdom authority until the renewal of all things.

2. We will inherit a hundred fold return in this life and the life to come including:
a. Homes. God will supply us with homes in this life and with a mansion in the life to come.
b. Land & fields. In Jesus' time, Land ownership was a sign of wealth with the owner being able to raise livestock or produce a harvest. For us today, owning real-estate or business helps us to provide for our families and pass on an inheritance to our children’s children. When God restores all things this time around you will be owning instead of renting.

c. Family. Many times when we follow Jesus that means we lose some family and friends, but when Jesus makes all things new he also gives you new family, the family of faith.

Dear God, I’m waiting on your return so that all have lost will be found in you. Nothing is lost when I exchange it for following you. You have been so good to me so that even in times like this you have provided all that I have needed. I pray for others who have lost jobs, homes, family that you would return a hundred fold upon those who have decided to follow Jesus. Jesus saves to the utmost and I am confident that he will restore all things.

In his Name,
Amen.