Why People Lose the KingdomSample

NOT BEING WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE

MAIN IDEAS

• Entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is conditioned by Jesus on leaving everything behind and following Him.

• At Peter’s question, Jesus answers without avoiding the truth, that when you choose to follow Him, you might lose everything on Earth, but instead you will receive a Great Spiritual Family, a Heavenly Reward, and oppression.

This conversation started by Peter reveals another reason why people may lose the KINGDOM: their unwillingness to pay the price. Although Peter’s approach is a natural one – he is interested in knowing what they can gain from leaving everything behind and following JESUS – his statement is not contradicted by JESUS, who Himself had stated that whoever wants to follow Him must leave everything behind.

JESUS was not interested in those who were not ready to pay the price for the KINGDOM and He was not afraid of losing many due to the truth about the KINGDOM. Peter’s natural approach is somehow justified by the fact that the disciples had not benefited from being born again yet, and the Earthly man sees a business opportunity even in spiritual things. JESUS speaks to them about eternal benefits, about the fact that they will gain a Great Spiritual Family here on Earth, but that there will also be great oppression.

It is quite clear that some people will miss the KINGDOM because they are not willing to pay the price, but we cannot exonerate those who not only do not say anything regarding the fact that whoever wants to be a disciple to JESUS must leave everything behind, but state the contrary.

There is another “gospel” trending nowadays, which excludes all oppression warnings and promises that if anyone “gives JESUS the favor” of following Him, Jesus will be quick to bestow everything upon him: lots of wealth, a good job, happiness, and honor on this Earth, health and many other privileges. Now that is a false “gospel!"

The times we live in predict, more than ever, the fact that we are approaching the end, when the love of many will be lost and faith will be almost extinct. It might just be that we are subtly lured into the trap of denial.