August 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Matthew 19:27–30

Devotional

In God’s kingdom all things take place in reverse order. The least are the greatest, and the greatest are the least. That will be clearly shown in the Day of days. That will be the day when the King Himself will separate the sheep from the goats. Then all false appearances will be removed. The outward appearance can now be very deceiving. In that day, however, matters will be judged very differently from what man on earth would have expected.

Our text also speaks of this. It reads that not all, but still, many that are first will then be the last. That will be disappointing for those who on earth are the first. It will be an unexpected blessing for those who are the last. Those people who were very sure that they were the first, and who were also viewed by the last as belonging to the first, will be terribly disillusioned. Who are these people who are first? They are the ones who never doubted themselves. They were spiritually high above others. They always had so much. They knew things better than others. They knew much more than others. They presented themselves as the ones who had made much progress in spiritual matters. They gave the impression of having much spiritual discernment. They never had struggles, for their faith was only a matter of feeling or it was only an outward knowledge of God. How their faces will turn pale, when they will have to hear, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23).

Those people who are first on earth can look down condescendingly on the truly poor in spirit. They can easily push the little lambs around with weighty spiritual talk, while they really have no knowledge of true spiritual life. In the Day of days shame will cover their faces as they stand before the all-knowing God. They are the ones who with a show of false humility with words said they wanted to take the lowest place, but their inward being was filled with the stench of pride. For it is also possible to pretend to be the last while you think you are the first.

According to Christ’s words, this day will bring everlasting disappointment. Imagine to have been important, to have taught others, to have preached to them, to have admonished and rebuked people. Think what it will be like to have hindered others from entering into the kingdom of God, as Christ Himself says. Then imagine what it will be like not to be able to enter in because all your life has been just an imitation. Many that are first shall be last. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.