Sunday school was awesome. Among the things it inspired in
me, was how life after death would be so sweet in heaven. I had painted this
picture in my imagination of an endless life free from trouble, spent feasting
on the choicest fruits and befriending all the animals in the planet. The
picture has evolved a lot in my imagination over the years as I continually
learn the truths of the Kingdom of God.
It was while reflecting on some teachings of Christ that I
realized that it may not be that easy entering into that Kingdom for so many of
us. So sad!
Case 1: Lacking Just One Thing (
A young man came to Jesus Christ and asked, "Good
Teacher, what good thing shall I do
that I may have eternal life?" This would be a question anyone would ask
Christ if we had an opportunity to. The question was both serious and
personalized. The young man was so resolved in his heart that he did not want
to miss heaven and was willing to cast out any doubt that he may have had as to
whether he was qualified.
The giver of life himself was right there to respond and he
did, “if you want to enter into life,
keep the commandments."
The young man must have been puzzled by the simple answer
and just to clarify there were no commandments he did not know of, he asked, "Which
ones?"
Jesus spoke of the Ten Commandments and the young man said, "All
these things I have kept from my youth. What
do I still lack?"
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and
give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow
Me."
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions.
And in conclusion Christ said in Mathew 19:30, "But
many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
This statement puzzles me and you ought to consider it too.
The young man had met the religious standard but was faulted on one thing only.
He was not willing to part with his riches. What is that one thing that may make
you miss on the Kingdom of Heaven? What is that one thing you are unwilling to
surrender? Because sadly for many of us who are Christians already, it will be
just one thing! Unforgiveness, lustfulness, bitterness, envy, pride, lying……
Case 2: It
is by the Grace of God to enter into the Kingdom of God (Mathew 20)
To illustrate more on how the first shall be the last and
the last the first, Jesus Christ went on to tell of a parable of the laborers
in the vineyard. The first laborers were hired early in the morning (perhaps at
6 am) and agreed on a denarius a day as the wages. At 9 am, the housemaster
still hired other workers for the same wages. He did likewise at 12 pm, 3 pm
and 5 pm.
When the job was done at 6pm, he started by paying those who
came at 5 pm a denarius and when the turn came for those who had toiled all day
from 6 am, they thought they will receive more. But the housemaster paid them a
denarius. The bible says they murmured against the housemaster. They must have
felt violated for their toil to be equated to those who came at 5 pm.
The housemaster reminded them, he had a right to be generous
and their contract was not breached after all as they had agreed a denarius a
day!
We are living in a world system that is so reward based. You
are paid by your input. But it is not so with the Kingdom, we are only
recipients of grace. Salvation and eternal life is the gift of God and cannot
be earned. Whoever is found working in the vineyard of Christ when He returns
will receive the same gift of a denarius which is eternal life.
Jesus Christ again concluded by saying in Mathew 20:26, "So
the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few
chosen."
Isn’t it what the older Christian folks may be tempted to feel
when they see the recent converts of faith? Yet in Christ’s view, the first may
be the last. Many years of being a Christian could breed a familiarity that may
lead to contempt. And those who are more recent in faith may be found more
worthy to enter into the Kingdom of God. A point to be cautious about and even
more careful as the time draws near. Does not the bible say, “Examine
yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith? Test yourselves.” (2
Corinthians 13:5)
Therefore let anyone who thinks he
stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take
heed lest he fall [into sin]. 1 Corinthians 10:12
Case 3: The Careless (Mathew 22)
We have all seen those job advertisement with the caveat ‘X
is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate
against any employee or applicant on the basis of ……..’ So it is with the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is likened to a king who made a marriage
feast for his son. He sent for those invited but they would not come. He again
sent for them saying, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings
are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage.”
But not caring,
they went their ways, one to his
field, and another to his trading.
This parable explains it all; why some people will not enter
the kingdom of God. They simply do not
care! They would rather go to their fields and businesses than go to the
King’s marriage feast even though he has prepared everything for them. Put
yourself in the king’s shoes for a moment and imagine the feeling after your
invited guests do not care to come and the banquet is ready.
In fact to add insult to injury, they treated the king’s
messenger spitefully and killed them. So the king was angry and sent his army
to destroy the murderers and burnt their cities. This is what will happen to
this world! I wonder what businesses you will be waking up to, that is if you
will wake up?
The king was heard telling his servants, “The wedding is
ready, but they who were invited were not worthy.” How sad!
Yet the marriage feast had to go on, and those in the
streets both good and bad were made guests.
Will you sing a resurrection song? Will you be among the numbers?
Part 2 coming soon. Please feel free to give feedback.
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