The Great Reversal

But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.
So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.
Look! Those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last.
-Matthew 19:30 & 20:16, Mark 10:31, Luke 13:30


This is one of those hard sayings of Jesus.  God's perspective is different than ours.  God judges differently than we do.  God sees the heart.  God is looking for abandonment to his son, for his son's sake.  Some people have made great sacrifices for Christ, but if they create a sense of pride, there is not lasting reward.

There will be great reversals and surprises.  Jesus tells us that God's economy if different than ours and might shock us.  Riches and wealth do not necessarily mean God's blessing.  Spiritual giftedness or authority now do not necessarily equate to permanent status.

God might ask you two questions when your life is over.  "How did you love?', and "How much of my son's likeness do you bear?"

Do you know what you are for?  Do you know why God created you?  Do you know what the gift of God is in you that glorifies him?  Do that to God's glory.  Be who God created you to be.

Do not strive to be first now.  Be the special person God made you to be, in last place and let God put you in the front, on his stage, in his time.  You have many relationships and functions, but what is the first thing?  Never stop doing and nurturing that first thing.