Devotionals

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Eternal Rewards

Context Passage: Luke 18:18-30

Key Verses 29,30: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”

Living out our faith in Christ while visiting this world requires sacrifice. In the case of the rich young ruler, he had followed all the rules of the law his entire life. It seems he had spent some time listening to the teachings of Jesus and had begun to wonder of that was enough. So he asked Jesus what he needed to do to receive eternal life.

If we were to translate this story into modern terms, we might see a wealthy young upstart with a skyrocketing career, a beautiful home, a nice car, a growing family, and all the trappings of success as defined by the world. He’s a good man. He tithes to his church, gives to those in need, and is an all-around nice guy. I can almost see him with his day planner, reviewing his to-do list of all the things he wants to accomplish in his life. He’s goal-oriented, and if it makes his list of to-do’s, it gets accomplished eventually one way or another. He glances down at the list and sees that he’s accomplished most of his life goals. He looks again and sees the one item that’s not checked off – eternal life in heaven. Not sure what else he could do to accomplish this, he goes to Jesus to inquire.

“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v18)

I imagine Jesus noticed several things about the young man’s question. First, Jesus points out the man’s reference to Jesus as ‘good’ and takes the opportunity to plant a seed of thought.

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.” To me, this is just one more way Jesus told his follower’s that He WAS God. Only God is good, and you call me good.

Jesus also saw in this man someone who had achieved success by the world’s definition. He knew the man’s impression that all rewards could be earned had been played out in this man’s life. He worked hard and earned all of his wealth and possession as his reward. The man thought he had it all. These things are so important to the world, but Jesus wanted the man to understand the minimal eternal significance of them.

“You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, and follow me.” (v22)

What?!? Can you imagine the man’s shock? He had worked so had for all he had. He had found his significance in his worldly success. Now Jesus was asking him to give it all up and give it all away. Jesus was trying to tell him that in the eternal scheme of things, all of his worldly possession and earthly success were of no value in Heaven.

I’m sure Jesus also noticed that the man asked “what must I do?” The man was trying to earn his own way into Heaven. The man asked how to ‘inherit’ eternal life. Inheritance implies receiving something one deserves. His statement implies he is deserving of the reward of eternal life. Jesus knew that none were deserving of eternal life because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (ref) He also knew that there is nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven. Eternal life can only be obtained through accepting the sacrifice Jesus would make for us. Life (including eternal life) is about accepting the consequences of our actions, facing judgment for our wrong-doing and not just receiving rewards for the good we’ve done. You cannot accept the rewards without the punishment. Jesus knew that He would make the ultimate sacrifice to take the punishment WE deserved for our sin.

Although Jesus knew all of this, He also knew that the message would not be received and understood if He just said, “Okay, what you need to do is admit you’re a sinner, watch me die, accept my sacrifice and just believe.” What do you suppose the reaction would have been? There would have been no true understanding. Instead, in His inimitable style, Jesus used a visual image to portray the inability of man to earn his own way into Heaven.

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich many to enter the kingdom of God.” (v24)

What an image! I see a cartoonish visual image of trying to squish a camel through a needle. Even the largest needle you can imagine would still make the task impossible. Jesus’ message? Rich men have found they can typically buy their way into just about anywhere … except Heaven. You cannot buy your way in, or earn you way in, or beg your way in, or “deed” your way in, or sneak your way in. Jesus is “the way” and the ONLY way.

Well now it seems the conversation has grown beyond just a one-on-one question and answer session between the rich man and Jesus. According to verse 26, all those who heard were now asking, “Who then can be saved?” The rich and the poor alike were wondering now. If the successful rich guy can’t get in, then how can I hope to?

Jesus’ response was one of the most beloved statements of the Christian faith: “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Hallelujah!! Good thing, huh?

Now Peter has been listening to all of this. He heard Jesus say that one needed to make sacrifices and give up what they had to follow Jesus. He quickly responds with, “We have left all we had to follow you!” Peter, the ever-passionate and exhuberant one, figures if that’s what it takes, then he’s got it in the bag.
He’ll come to learn that his personal sacrifice is important, but nothing compared with the sacrifice Jesus would make.

Now that He’s given them a few things to think about, Jesus is ready to impart his truth.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”

I believe Jesus was telling us that God honors our sacrifices. Not just the ordinary sacrifices of life, like hard work, battling illness, and giving to the church – although He honors those as well - but deeper sacrifices like giving up a job without another one because of ethical or integrity issues, paying a family member’s water bill so it won’t be cut off when you really don’t have the cash to spare, or giving your lunch to a homeless person even if it means you’ll be hungry until dinnertime. These are the types of everyday sacrifices we can make that honor God. They show we are thankful for the blessing He has given us, even though the world would tell us we have logical and rational reasons not to do them. These sacrifices (and others like them) are examples of being “Jesus with skin on” – of showing the love of God to the world. And what small sacrifices they are compared with the sacrifice Jesus made to take the punishment for our sins and grant us eternal life.

I’m reminded of those in the world who sacrifice far more than the average person. Missionaries on foreign fields, for example. These people have truly “left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God.” They often sacrifice the basic creature comforts we are so accustomed to – like a warm and comfortable home with family and friends nearby – to spread the love of Christ to those who’ve never heard it before. I’ve always admired the courage of foreign missionaries.

In this truth, Jesus is asking us to sacrifice ourselves – those self-serving interests we enjoy so much – for the sake of His kingdom. May all of our lives be focused on serving God, loving his people, and always seeking “less of me and more of Him.” In doing so, He promises we will receive many times more in return – both in this life and the next. This doesn’t mean that if we give $100 to someone, we’ll receive a check for $1,000 in tomorrow’s mail. Jesus is trying to get us to focus on our eternal rewards and the rewards that can’t be measured in earthly terms.

When you have a relationship with Jesus, and you know you’ve done something that would please Him, something that was not about you and what you would get out of it, there is a sense of peace and soul-satisfaction that cannot be described. Better than that, all the sacrifices we may make in our earthly lifetime (and any rewards that may come from them) are insignificant when compared with the ultimate reward of spending eternity in Heaven by His side. I love the feeling I have of being close to God now. I can only imagine the immeasurable joy of standing before His throne in eternity.

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