Last time we were reflecting on Jesus words: ‘…at the renewal of all things…’ found in Matthew 19.  Won’t that be amazing when Jesus straightens out all the messes made by all of us?  ‘…the renewal of ALL things…’!  Can hardly wait.  Times have been tough for people throughout history.  Satan relishes death, decay and destruction.  He gets his ‘jollies’ from the worst things thrown our way.

But here in the Bible, God’s Word,  I notice three wonderful blessings promised to those of us who have repented of our sins and welcomed Jesus into our hearts by faith alone.  Is that you?  If not, then pray to Jesus right now accepting Him into your life.

Matthew 19–  three verses containing three incredible blessings.  The first is that we’ll have the responsibility of meaningful work.  The first of the three ‘R’s!  Jesus talks about our judging the world, turning right-side-up what has become topsy-turvy.  What could be better than performing work that we love?  What a blessing– looking forward to that day’s work.  What the one who hates his work can never understand.  Jesus promises His followers that we’ll have productive work to do in His coming Kingdom.  Responsibility is the first ‘R’.

Then comes rewards.  Yes, He promises that any sacrifice made for Him will be nothing compared to all that He has for us.  The second ‘R’!  His reward…a fascinating life with absolutely no end in sight.  I remember a friend of mine, who should have known better, telling me that if she was only going to float around in heaven, flapping her wings like angels do, playing a harp up on some cloud for all eternity, then she’d rather take a pass.  ‘Not for me’, she said.  Where does it say any of that in the Bible?  We’ll have wings?  Play harps for eternity?  Bored forever?  Not anywhere… from Genesis to Revelation.  Quite the contrary.  I told her so, but she remained stubbornly unconvinced.  She’s in heaven now.  She loved Jesus.  Had some rather strange ideas.   Right now she’s having the most surprising time she could never, ever imagine!

There’s more.  The third ‘R’–surprising rearrangements are ‘a-comin’!  Jesus says that ‘…many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first’.  Don’t worry about your place in heaven, or getting all the recognition you deserved in this life.  Let it go!  To be there, in heaven, with Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit and angels and all those who have gone before us and those who will join us later… to be with all of them, with no end in sight, no more good-byes, no more painful separations, none of that…ever again!  If I’m the last one in the door, standing up behind the back row,  I’ll not complain.   I’m there!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings you have in store for us in Jesus Christ.  Amen.