Title: The first will be last and the last first!
Text: Mark 10:23-31
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.”
As a hundred thousand fans watched, Richard Petty ended his 45 race losing streak and picked up stockcar racing's biggest purse at the time: $73,500. It all happened at the Daytona 500. Petty's win, however, was a complete surprise. Going into the last lap, he was running 30 seconds behind the two leaders. All at once the car in second place tried to pass the No. 1 man on the final stretch. This caused the first car to drift inside and force the challenger onto the infield grass, and slightly out of control.
What happened next was incredible. The offended driver pulled his car back onto the track, caught up with the leader, and forced him into the outside wall. Both vehicles came to a screeching halt. The two drivers jumped out and quickly got into an old-fashioned slugging match. In the meantime, third-place Petty cruised by for the win.
Source Unknown.
The first will be last and the last first!
Last week we spoke of treasure in heaven and how so many people see their treasure here on earth in what they have or do. The rich young man in the gospel last week went away disappointed because he had great possessions instead of following Jesus. Many in this life also follow material gain while at the same time giving up the need for spiritual feeding.
A friend of mine who makes his living teaching guitar always keeps Sunday as his day of rest where he doesn’t teach or play gigs … and the Lord knows that he needs the money. But instead he goes to church and focuses on his spiritual feeding and family time. He’s told me once, “God always meets my needs … rarely early … but always on time!”
Jesus, in speaking to his disciples about those who trust in riches or wealth says:
“Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! Remember the young man went away disappointed because he had great possessions. And Jesus then adds:
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
We all know how hard it is to just thread a needle don’t we? Have you ever sewn or tried to sew a button on? I have … it wasn’t good. The picture on the bulletin cover gives a pretty strong idea of how difficult it is.
So, the image of entering the Kingdom of God by any means other than,
8 by grace … through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9
So the things of this world and all of the accomplishments you achieve won’t measure up in God’s cup of salvation. It is all gift … both grace and faith. The disciples ask:
“Then who can be saved?” Who can meet the requirements? Who can get through the eye of the needle? Jesus tells them: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
The first will be last and the last first!
Maybe that is good news for the Lions? It’s funny … because I’m not a big football fan. Working on Saturdays and Sundays for most of my life sucked all the interest out of me for football, both college and pro. I don’t have a favorite team and really I’m happy to see Michigan and Michigan State do well … so it is a bit odd for me to have sports illustrations these last two weekends. I really don’t follow football much, and it is more likely that you’ll see Monica turning on the game than me. I must admit that this Michigan / Michigan State game even woke me out of my football sleep a bit.
Our lives revolve around what we do. How we prepare, what advantages we find, and how we perform. Some struggle and some excel. The Lions are self evident. We see it in the teams we follow and we see it in our own lives. As my guitar playing friend once told me:
“I use to worship the wood in my hands but now, by grace, I worship Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on the wood of the cross.”
Work hard, do your best, provide for your family, but see the greater gift in what you have received that you could never earn.
28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”
Last week Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything, give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and then Christ compelled him to come follow me. But he went away in sorrow because he had great possessions.
Martin Luther in speaking in his lectures in Genesis says:
“Do not fear those, says Christ (Matt 10:28), who kill the body, house, and other things, what of it? These things have to be left behind in any case.”
He then continues:
“For neither Peter nor Paul even though they were saintly men, had better flesh than we have.” They too, were children of Adam, [broken in sin] just as we are. Paul sometimes glories and boasts as if he were already victorious over all evils. Sometimes he complains pitiable about fears within and fighting’s without (2Cor.7:5). Where was that completely invincible hero, that victor over all hell, then?”
LW Am. Ed. Vol.5, Pg 27
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,
[And in this life] persecutions, and in the age to come [but they will also receive] eternal life.
We will have tribulations and persecutions but also, heaven … and eternal life. That is fully on account of God, in Christ, through the Spirit’s work.
The first will be last and the last first!
We have Christ’s assurance of eternal life and the word of Jesus is always trustworthy and true. Those who trust in him and follow him have what he has promised … eternal life.
And just as Richard Petty crossed the finished line as the battle still raged on the track you too will be given the winners crown … the crown of life eternal in the precious name of Jesus.
The first will be last and the last first!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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