Simply Accept The Promised Reward Without Wrangling!

"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 KJV)

The thought came to me this morning as I was doing my morning chores and studies, in regard to the above verse (that came to my mind by the Spirit I hope), about how forsaking all and following Christ guarantees two things: first, "manifold more in this present time," and second, "in the world to come life everlasting." Further, the Arminian Calvinism debate about salvation, I thought, is really an incidental matter as respects my personally obtaining these two precious coveted objects. Both sides, except for a few Hardshells, agree that, for whatever reason, the two promises are restricted to those who have forsaken all and followed Christ. Only the Hardshells would look at the verse and say

1. The receiving of "time salvation" ( the "receiving more in this present time") is certainly the reward for having forsaken all and followed Christ (in conversion and thereafter) but not the receiving of "life everlasting" in the world to come (we based that upon our presupposition and that presupposition will not allow it to be otherwise).

2. Therefore, the promise of everlasting life is simply meant to assure the converted, but does not limit the promise of everlasting life to the converted (those who forsake all and follow Christ).

3. Therefore following Christ is a condition for the former promise ("time salvation" or "manifold more now") but not for latter.

But, anyone can see that:

1. The two promised things (time and eternal salvation) are both the result of having forsaken all to follow Jesus.

2. There is no hope of either time or eternal salvation for any who do not follow Christ.

The way to proclaim this truth to all is to state the promise and ask:

Who does not want a better life now and immorality and eternal life in the world to come? Jesus promises that to all who follow him. Will you follow him?