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How do you explain things that are beyond human comprehension, things that we have never
even imagined? Well, God does it the way we would for a child–he uses illustrations.
That’s why Jesus so often described the kingdom of God with parables. We shouldn’t
make the mistake of thinking these stories are an exact description–they are illustrations
to help us understand some aspect of what is otherwise beyond our comprehension.
For example, Peter once reminded Jesus that the disciples had given up a lot to follow
him. So Jesus answered “Truly I tell you, “no one who has left home or brothers or
sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to
receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children
and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”
What Jesus was giving them is comfort and encouragement. But we would misunderstand
it if we were to take these words in a literal manner. Jesus did not mean that we would be
blessed literally with 100 mothers or 100 new farms. What he meant is that the things
we give up for the gospel aren’t in vain and that we stand to gain more than we gave
up. In several parables, Jesus indicated that
the eternal reward would be like rulership. Once again, this should not be interpreted
as a position of power and prestige. Rather, it refers to receiving a greater opportunity
to serve and to help others. That really is–or at least should be–the greatest reward for
a position of leadership. These analogies are given to help us understand,
and we should be careful not to miss the real point by interpreting them in ways Jesus did
not intend. Jesus used them because we do not have the ability, or even the vocabulary,
to fully understand, let alone describe, an existence that we have never experienced.
But Jesus wants us to know that our spiritual blessing will be far better than any physical
things that we can have in this life. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “What no
eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived,”—the things
God has prepared for those who love him” All physical things, no matter how beautiful,
enjoyable or valuable, are in comparison like weak shadows of heavenly rewards. Whatever
we value the most is in this physical world cannot compare with God’s rewards in heaven.
As Paul said, we “see through a glass darkly” as we “declare God’s wisdom, a mystery
that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
I’m Joseph Tkach – Speaking
of LIFE.