Matthew 19:27-30
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? (28) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29) And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (30) But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”
Observe the blessedness of those who follow Christ in the regeneration but in doing this, note the cause. It is for Jesus’ sake, and by the Lord Jesus’ righteousness. All for Him and all by Him. And in this redemption, the last and least, in the view of others, are first and greatest in the esteem of Christ. So essential it is to know Him, whom to know is life eternal. Precious Lord! how reverse to the custom and manners of the world, is thy kingdom!
Blessed Master I would humbly enquire of thee concerning eternal life, but not what good thing that I must do to attain it. For alas! if the possession of heaven could be obtained with only a single act of goodness; never to all eternity should I find it. Where I should do good, evil is present with me. Oh! then for grace to know thee, to love thee, to follow thee, as my only good; my hope, my righteousness, my portion forever! Amen.
(Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary)
Even though it sometimes looks as if there is very little happening here for some of us — ALL that matters is the measure of Christ that God is accomplishing in us — everything else is going to pass away. It won’t matter how big of a ministry someone had, or how little — or if they had any at all. What will matter is what there is of the life of Christ. And what there is of the measure of Christ is going to be released at the resurrection into the fullness of Christ. This will be to the eternal benefit of us personally, but also unto ALL the Body. Then we will, I’m sure, truly understand what Jesus meant when He said, “Then the first will be last and the last shall be first.”