Promising Future

Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:28-30)

For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The two passages above speak of the future. In the gospel reading, Jesus is encouraging His disciples who have sacrificed much to follow Him into ministry. The future holds promise for these courageous souls. Whatever they have given up in order to serve the Lord, they will get back a hundred times over, plus eternal life. They will be entrusted with governing the nation of Israel in the kingdom of God.

It would be a mistake to look at modern day Israel and think disciples will be governing there with Jesus. Instead, Jesus was forming a new nation, a new Israel, through the church. Israel means "strives with God." It comes from the story of Jacob wrestling with a stranger and discovering it is God. God renames Jacob, "Israel," because he struggled with God and men and had prevailed. Another translation has God say to Israel, "for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." (Genesis 32:28, KJV)

The nature of Israel's calling is to be a sign to the rest of the world. Through faithfulness to the Lord's covenant with them through Moses, Israel was to live a blessed and peaceful existence. When Israel failed to keep the covenant, they suffered from the hands of their enemies. They eventually lost everything and taken into exile as captives of the Babylonians. But God did not forget His promises to Israel. He remained faithful to the covenant. He sent them prophets with hopeful pictures of the future.

The second reading above is from the prophet Isaiah. This passage is often read during Advent in the weeks preceding Christmas. Christians read of the Christ here. We read of Jesus. Christians understand that Jesus is the child born unto us and on Him rests the authority to rule. He is the anointed one of God. The title "messiah" or "Christ" means anointed one.  

Those who keep covenant with Christ will govern the Kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of conscience. The kingdom is within us. Through the kingdom within we live out our lives. In a sense we must govern our own hearts by turning over our hearts to the King. As his authority continually grows in your life, His rule will impact the world through you. You get together with other disciples who also practice self-government by turning over their lives to the Lord, you will have a powerful association by which to transform the world.

When it comes to understanding Jesus' promise, many think of heavenly rewards in the hereafter. One hymn celebrates "I got a mansion just over the hill top in that bright land where we'll never grow old." It may well be that this is the appropriate interpretation. I wonder, though, if Jesus had a more immediate reward in mind when he promised houses and family to replace that which the disciples had left behind to help Jesus build the kingdom of God.

Consider what the church was like in the early days. Disciples sold property and gave it to the community of believers for relief to those in need. The apostles reportedly all died in service to the Lord. It would seem if they gained a reward, like Jesus promised, it would be after death in paradise. But what if we considered that these men stayed as guests in all kinds of homes during their travels. Disciples opened their homes to the traveling apostles and supplied their needs. While they had no deed to these homes, they had warm shelter and the loving hospitality of those who deeply appreciated their ministry. I'll assume these disciples, who opened their homes to the traveling evangelist or apostle, became like family to their guests.

The church is often called the family of God. The New Testament says we are brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostles sometimes referred to their churches affectionately, calling them their children. Look at Paul's words in his first letter.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (1st Thessalonians 2:7b-8)

The promise of the kingdom is not only for our life hereafter. It is now, here among those who believe. When we stop thinking in worldly terms, and longing for worldly possessions, we are free to receive the kingdom. The kingdom is rich with treasures that cannot rust, break, or be stolen. The kingdom is rich with the kind of treasures that the heart holds.

My net worth is not much at all, but I am a rich man because I am loved. I am loved by God. I am loved by my family, and I am loved by the church of Jesus Christ. I am welcome in hundreds of homes and hearts. They make me rich with eternal treasures of the heart.

To quote another hymn, 

"I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,

I've been washed in the fountain, 

cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God."

So how is your future looking?