And Peter said, “Behold, we have left all that is our own and followed You.” And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Luke 18:28-30
Introduction
If you have ever seen the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, you may remember the central pivotal item called the Everlasting Gobstopper. This candy was created “for children with very little pocket money,” because in the eyes of Willy Wonka, a lack of wealth should not preclude someone from the joys of tasting a sweet confection. But it also played another role in the story, and perhaps one more significant. Each child brought to the chocolate factory was given a secret test where they were tempted by a large reward to steal the Everlasting Gobstopper and deliver it to Willy Wonka’s rival Arthur Slugworth.
The test, of course, was that if a child traded an everlasting item for a bit of wealth, he or she would miss out on the opportunity to inherit the entire chocolate factory. It was a matter of perspective.
Now this declaration from Peter that he and the others have left all they have to follow Jesus comes directly on the heels of Jesus’ exchange with the rich young ruler who refused to sell his possessions to follow Jesus. That young man was fixated on what he had here and now, failing to set his eyes on any blessing God might give him beyond simple wealth. His perspective was limited. Where does your gaze lie? Is it set on what is in front of you, where all we own is destined for destruction? Or is it set on eternity where the treasure we receive is everlasting (Matthew 6:20)?
Receiving many times more
While we typically need to be reminded of the fact, many of us grasp the eternal reward that awaits believers after this life, but what does Jesus mean when He says those who give things up in this life will receive many times more at this time? I like to think about C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce in regard to this passage. In the book, we see an allegorical journey toward heaven as our protagonist encounters many people along the way, not dissimilar from Pilgrim’s Progress. In Lewis’s telling, there is a moment when we encounter a woman who is followed closely by animals, birds, and others all calling her “Mother.” Our guide through this informs us that while she had no children during her earthy life, she learned to love with the love of God such that she could care for all of these in the life to come.
Even though these characters have passed on from their lives here on earth, the principle is plain to see. The loss we may experience for the sake of the gospel here and now is nothing compared with the incredible blessings God gives us in His family. And here is the kicker: God’s family is not confined to Heaven. You surround yourself with His family every time you go to Church. John 13:35 tells us that people will know us by our love for one another. It is a deeper and more profound love than one would find in wife, brothers, parents, or children. It is the love of Christ’s Church which flows out from His Holy Spirit.
Leaving all that is our own
God does not abandon us to a life of solitude and poverty. He does not expect us to flee into the mountains to live as some sort of pious hermit. Very much the opposite, in fact. We are commanded in Hebrews 10 to gather together regularly for the purpose of encouragement and building one another up. Do not think that the test Jesus gave to the rich young ruler or this exhortation He gives to the disciples is a command to cut ties with everyone in our lives. Rather, it is a word of comfort and a promise that no sacrifice you make will be left unrewarded.
Take this promise from the Lord to heart and allow yourself to be bold with your faith. If you are rejected by family or friends over it, know that you have an eternal family waiting for you right now.
May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.
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