Manifold More
“Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” Luke 18:28-30
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Phil. 3:7-8
The more I have followed the Lord Jesus Christ, the more I have had to leave behind. For the more I have learned to walk according to God’s ways instead of the world’s ways, and the more passionate I have become about living for and surrendering all to Christ, the more I have had to forsake the fleshly dreams and desires I’ve had. The more I have relentlessly chased hungrily and thirstily after the presence and righteousness of God, the more I’ve lost people who are living in wickedness with their hearts turned away from God who are greatly offended and sometimes even hating me for my zeal to live for God.
Long ago, I came upon the verses about receiving “manifold more” in this life on earth and everlasting life as a sold out Christ follower. Wow, I thought. My greatest loss in following Jesus hasn’t been material stuff. It’s been the people I’ve so loved. I figured this passage meant that though the precious ones I had lost were irreplaceable, at least I would get a new bunch of special loved ones according to God’s promise. But God’s Spirit brought me back to the verse and led me to take a closer look.
Jesus doesn’t promise “manifold more” of what, or whom, we’ve lost! He promises “manifold more”! Manifold more what? For me, Philippians 3:7-8 provides the answer. The excellency of knowing Jesus Christ! The excellency of loving God and being in His presence forever because I’ve repented and believe in Christ as Lord and have been forgiven; of God’s love, peace, joy, hope, and fellowship right here on this very earth in this very moment; of communion with God moment by moment, ever closer to Him; of coming to know and love Him more by the breath; of manifold more, ever more, of falling in love with Him; of being given the privilege of being called to praise and worship and magnify and honor and serve Him for eternity! Do the losses still hurt? YES! But nothing in the universe compares with the “manifold more” of the excellency of knowing and being with God and Christ forever!
Believe in Christ! Follow Him! Forsake all for Him! Experience manifold more! Of the Lord!