Receiving a hundredfold after leaving everything

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Does God really remember our sacrifices as we follow him?  Peter left his job as a fisherman and traveled by foot with Jesus as itinerant ministers.  They would stay in friends’ homes and out in the country side.  In whose boat were they traveling across the Sea of Galilee so many times?  God provided many places for them to be refreshed.

For many of our Asian friends there is a great sacrifice of family in order for them to become a Christian.  Truly they may be disowned by the entire family.  They are perceived as bringing shame upon their family when they decide to become a Christian. 

How do we receive “more” in this life?  We are born into the family of God when we believe in Jesus.  We may feel alone, but in reality we have a huge family with resources to support one another.  God gifts each family member in order to have something to offer and receive.  We get counsel, prayer, physical touch, unconditional love, adventure, acceptance, and so much more from the family of God.  My closest friendships are with my ministry friends.

Jesus also says that persecution is included in the bargain.  This is spoken of as a badge of honor to say that we are co-heirs with Christ.  Persecution is not our struggles with our own personal sin, but the rejection that we receive for being associated with Christ and living out his kingdom agenda.

Finally, Jesus elevates the end reward…eternal life.  The trade of temporary pain for everlasting life is worth all of the struggle.  It may be hard to visualize or even endure, but it will be worth it in light of the length of eternity.  Life is good.  Life with Jesus is great.  Eternal life with Jesus will be glorious.