MY BELOVED GROUP MEMBERS: THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST The FIRST-LAST, LAST-FIRST doctrine is an eternal rewards concept for believers only based on the relative eternal value of serving yourself in this TEMPORAL LIFE vs. SERVING GOD. This is not to say that the lowest in position in this life will automatically be in the highest position in the eternal kingdom. IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING A SERVANT OF GOD AND NOT YOURSELF OR OTHERS in whatever secular position you are placed in. The issue is no matter what position you are in, in this life - which is all DUE TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD ANYWAY - how FAITHFULLY you have SERVED GOD in accordance with HIS SPECIFIC PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. This includes the DISCOVERING, PERFECTING and UTILIZING OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT(S) which God has given to every believer. And GOD PROVIDES THE CIRCUMSTANCES by which YOU MAY CHOOSE TO EXERCISE THOSE GIFTS AND SERVE HIM. All of this begins and continues with an earnest and regular study of GODS WORD in order to renew your mind to think properly to serve God best. [MATTHEW 19:27-30; MARK 10:28-31]: (MATTHEW 19:27) Peter answered him, We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? (MATTHEW 19:28) Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, 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. (MATTHEW 19:29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (MATTHEW 19:30) But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. In the previous incident Jesus told the rich young man to sell all he had and follow Him. This was exactly what the disciples had done, as expressed by Peter. WE HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW YOU! WHAT THEN WILL THERE BE FOR US? Whereas the young ruler did not leave his possessions, (MATTHEW 19:22), Peter and the other disciples had (MATTHEW 4:18-22; MATTHEW 9:9; MATTHEW 16:25). Surely then, Peter reasoned, God would bless them for they were not trusting in their wealth! The Lord explained there would be a renewal (PALINGGENESIA, REBIRTH) OF ALL THINGS. Though the nation was then rejecting His offer of the kingdom, the kingdom would come, with its extensive remaking of things spiritual (ISAIAH 2:3; ISAIAH 4:2-4; ISAIAH 11:9b), political (ISAIAH 2:4; ISAIAH 11:1-5, ISAIAH 10-11; ISAIAH 32:16-18), and geographical and physical (ISAIAH 2:2; ISAIAH 4:5-6; ISAIAH 11:6-9; ISAIAH 35:1-2). Christ will then sit on His glorious throne ( MATTHEW. 25:31; REVELATION. 22:1). The disciples will have a special place in the kingdom, sitting on thrones and judging the 12 tribes of Israel ( REVEALION 21:12-14). In fact ALL WHO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND RELATIVES FOR THE LORDS SAKE WILL RECIVE PHYSICAL BLASSING THAT WILL MORE THAN COMPENSATE FOR THEIR LOSSES (MATTHEW 19:29). THIS WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THEIR ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS KINGDOM. While it might appear THEY ARE GIVING UP EVERYTHING NOW AND ARE THE LAST, they will be given everything eternally AND WILL BE FIRST. Conversely those, like the rich young ruler, who appear to have everything now (THE FIRST) will discover one day they have lost everything (THEY WILL BE LAST; 20:16). [MARK 9:30-35]: (MARK 9:30) They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, (MARK 9:31) because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise. (MARK(9:32) But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. (MARK (9:33) They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, What were you arguing about on the road? (MARK 9:34) But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. (MARK 9:35) Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. After sitting down, the recognized position of a Jewish teacher ( MATTHEW 5:1; MARK 13:1), Jesus summoned the Twelve. He taught them the essence of true greatness: If anyone wants ( MARK 8:34) to be first, to have the highest position among the GREAT in Gods kingdom, he must be the very last (lit., he shall be last of all, by deliberate, voluntary choice) and the servant of all. Here SERVANT (DIAKONOS) depicts one who attends to the needs of others freely, not one in a servile position (AS A DOULOS, A SLAVE). Jesus did not condemn the desire to improve ones position in life but He did teach that greatness in His kingdom was not determined by status but by service (10:43-45). [Mt 20:1-16]: THE PARABLE OF THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD (MARK 20:1) For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. (MARK 20:2) He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. (MARK 20:3) About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. (MARK 20:4) He told them, You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right. (MARK 20:5) So they went. HE WENT OUT AGAIN ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR AND THE NINTH HOUR AND DID THE SAME THING. (MARK 20:6) About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? (MARK 20:7) Because no one has hired us, they answered. He said to them, You also go and work in my vineyard. (MARK 20:8) When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first. (MARK 20:9) The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. (MARK 20:10) So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. (MARK 20:11) When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. (MARK 20:12) These men who were hired last worked only one hour, they said, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day. (MARK 20:13) But he answered one of them, Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didnt you agree to work for a denarius? (MARK 20:14) Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. (MARK 20:15) Dont I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? (MARK 20:16) So the last will be first, and the first will be last. [REVELATION 16]: By this illustration, Jesus was teaching that the matter of REWARDS IS UNGER THE SOVEREIGN CONTROL OF GOD, THE LANDOWNER IN THE PARABLE. GOD IS THE ONE BEFORE WHOM ALL ACCOUNTS WILL BE SETTLED. Many who have prominent places will someday find themselves DEMOTED. And many who often find themselves at the end of the line will find themselves PROMOTED to the head of the line: THE LAST WILL BE FIRST, AND THE FIRST WILL BE LAST.... In the final accounting, the Lords analysis will carry the greatest and only important weight. AMEN!
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 23:22:30 +0000
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