Chapter 34 – Jesus explains the “Great Reversal” Revisited!
In last week’s blog post I asked for comments on two stories that Jesus told to His disciples. I requested that you would please read the two stories and leave me a comment describing how you see/understand the meaning of this “Great Reversal.”
If you need to refresh your memory, you can find the two stories in last week’s post at (www.mikehartfortruth.com, Category: “Jesus Christ is lord”, Chapter 33: Jesus explains the “Great Reversal.”)
I promised to compile your responses and share them with everybody the next Friday. I received two wonderful responses and I will share them with you at this time, and follow-up with some thoughts of my own:
The story of the Rich man is the story of us all. There are many Christians around the world, including ourselves, who love the Lord with all our hearts, but just how many of us could or would give up everything we have to show that love. We are all so very rich! Yet we will receive a heavenly reward just as those who followed him more closely! It’s not about fairness it’s about grace! Thanks be to God!
As for the story of those who were hired early and those who were hired late being paid the same. I think of it as those who accepted and follow the Lord early in life and those who found Him much later in life. How much more thankful are those who have been forgiven much! Being first or last is not what’s important! But being with the Lord in eternity forever!
-Kevin-
God’s ways are different than our ways. He sees things through a lens of love and giving. We tend to see things through a lens of fairness and equality. Life is not fair. He paid the punishment for what we did. It would be fair if we were sent to hell for our sins. Thank You Jesus that life is NOT fair.
-Ed-
I believe the understanding/explanations of the two guys before me are exactly what Jesus was trying to get across to his disciples. Thank You Ed and Kevin for your insightful input!
God Himself tells us that His ways are not the same as our ways:
Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Someone once gave me this analogy: He asked if I would rather be given Justice or Grace? He went on to describe a scenario about a man on death row for the heinous crimes he had committed. He justly deserved to die for the terrible things he had done. That is Justice! The Warden then comes to him and informed him that the Governor of the state had just given him a full pardon, and he was free to go. That is Grace!
That is exactly what Jesus Christ does for us!
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Thank You Father God for helping us understand the meaning of Your “Great Reversal.” Amen.