God’s Good Will
Christians don’t lose when they obey God’s will. On the contrary they gain eternal life (John 1:12). God does not take any good thing from His children. In fact, He gives us far above what we hope or ever dream. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). It is the Lord’s pleasure to give His children abundant life here. Jesus assured His children saying, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
As for those that lose for the sake of the kingdom of God, Jesus promised, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19:21). The “hundredfold” that Christians receive in this life consist in the joy of Christian fellowship and in the more real and intense satisfaction that comes from our connection with our loving Father.
But there are also sacrifices the Christian needs to make. The Bible gives us the example of Moses (Hebrews 11:23¬-27), who was raised up in Pharaoh’s palace by Pharaoh’s own daughter. She “nurtured him as her own son” (Acts 7:21). Moses was surrounded for 40 years by the irresistible attraction of the riches and power of the world’s first empire at that time.
According to God’s plan, Moses had to leave the royalty position he was in. His choice to give up the momentary pleasures meant hardship, suffering and ill-treatment. “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:24-25). Christians often face the same situation. Living the Christian life may mean cutting of certain worldly connections (Matthew 10:34-36; Luke 12:51-53).
The sacrifices may seem great at the beginning. But in reality they are not at all in comparison to the glories that awaits the Christian. Moses’ eye was fixed upon the promises and privileges of the covenant relationship with God. He voluntarily exchanged the earthly glory and power of the present life for the infinite glories of heaven.
The good new is that God has prepared for His children blessings that far exceed their imaginations: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). This knowledge is beyond anything that people may know apart from the gospel of Christ.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
