May 3, 2012 The Answer

The Answer Mark 10:29-31 And Jesus replied, “Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything-home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property-for love of me and to tell others the Good News, 30 who won't be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land-with persecutions! “All these will be his here on earth, and in the world to come he shall have eternal life. 31 But many people who seem to be important now will be the least important then; and many who are considered least here shall be greatest there.” THE ONLY thing that could make life for my wife and me better than it is would be to live close to our daughter and her family. Seeing them about 4 weeks a year is a difficult circumstance. That separation essentially exists because of God’s call on our lives to live and minister where we do. On the other hand, God has given us an incredible family of “parents, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, and grandchildren” with a family of about 300 as we live and work with our Lord here. That’s what Jesus is describing to his disciples. He has told them they must leave everything for him. And he now tells them they will be rewarded with much more than they have left. Ministering the Gospel, they will live among people whom they will love and support. Their reward will be great. There is, though, that one reference to persecutions. People will come against you as you talk of Jesus. They might make fun of you, avoid you, or even kill you. Even so, there is the ultimate reward of eternal life—ultimate joy forever. How good is that? Pause and consider: temporary ends. Forever doesn’t.