Luke 18:26-30: a reflection

26Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 28Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake, 30who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

After a rich man goes away sorrowful, unwilling to give up his wealth to follow Jesus, the astonished disciples ask, Then who can be saved? Jesus' answer lifts their eyes from human impossibility to divine power: What is impossible with men is possible with God. And when Peter points out that they have left everything to follow him, Jesus promises an abundant return: no one who has left home or family for the sake of God's kingdom will fail to receive many times more in this life, and in the age to come, eternal life.

Notice the two truths Jesus gives. First, salvation is impossible for us to achieve on our own, no one can save himself, but what is impossible with men is possible with God; salvation is his work, not our achievement. And second, nothing we give up for his kingdom is truly lost; whatever we surrender for his sake is repaid many times over, now and in eternity. What looks like sacrifice is, in God's economy, gain.

Both are freeing. When we despair of being good enough to be saved, Jesus points us away from our own impossible effort to God, with whom it is possible; salvation is a gift of his power, not a prize we earn. And when we fear the cost of following him, of what we might have to give up, Jesus assures us that nothing surrendered for his kingdom is wasted; the return is many times greater. Do not despair of salvation as though it depended on your own impossible strength; it is possible with God. And do not cling in fear to what he asks you to give up; whatever you surrender for his kingdom, he repays many times over. What is given to God is never lost.

Lord Jesus, when the disciples asked who then can be saved, you answered that what is impossible with men is possible with God, and you promised that nothing given up for your kingdom is lost, but repaid many times over. When I despair of being good enough to be saved, lift my eyes from my own impossible effort to you, with whom salvation is possible; it is your gift, not my achievement. And when I fear the cost of following you, assure me that nothing I surrender for your sake is wasted, that the return is far greater than the cost. Help me trust your power to save and your generosity to repay. What is given to you is never lost.