ASSURANCE of salvation is one of the greatest blessings of the Christian life. Peter's words in response to all he 'and the other disciples had just heard' expresses this desire for assurance that we are saved and made members of the kingdom of God. Jesus, in his reply to Peter's question, gives assurance of salvation. So let us consider the words of Jesus together in this meditation.

In the first place assurance of salvation is being assured that we are in the kingdom of God. The world has a multiplication of kingdoms, but the bible speaks of only two. The bible tells us that there is the kingdom of this world, which is the kingdom of Satan, who the bible calls the god of this world; and there is the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven. Naturally we are all born into the kingdom of this world and so are under the condemnation of this world because of sin and godlessness. In our natural state we love this world and seek for the treasure of this world, whether money, pleasure, position and so on. Just as we entered the kingdom of this world by birth, so we can only enter the kingdom of God by spiritual birth. The evidence of spiritual birth is seen in our attitude to the world. Jesus describes this attitude as leaving home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God.

We read how the disciples entered the kingdom of God when Jesus called them to follow him and become fishers of men. We read about this in Matthew 4: 18-19. Jesus was walking on the shore of the sea of Galilee and seeing the disciples fishing, he called them to follow him, and they left their nets and followed Jesus.

We enter the kingdom of God when we hear the call of Jesus to follow him, and we are given grace by God to renounce the world and give our allegiance in faith and obedience to Jesus, and seek to follow him. The Christian life is one where we put God and our Lord Jesus Christ before anything else in the world. This means that our allegiance to God comes before any other allegiance we may have, and if there is a conflict, we obey and follow Christ rather than any other obligation.

When Jesus called the disciples to follow him, the call was irresistible, as they were given grace to respond from their hearts to the call. All conversion can be described like this. It is leaving this world to trust Christ implicitly, and obey him as Lord. In the practice of living there will be many conflicts between the call of the world and our allegiance to Christ, but the bottom line is what is the condition of our heart and will. The true believer is one in whom Christ dwells by his Spirit, and the inner desire is to obey and follow Christ. The words of Jesus do not mean that we must renounce all family allegiances, nor does it always mean that we must become missionaries. The words of Jesus are telling us that the test of the saved person who is member of the kingdom of God, is putting Christ and his kingdom first in all things, and when there is a conflict of allegiance, then allegiance to Christ comes first.

The blessing of this sacrifice is very great, both in time and eternity. In this life Jesus tells the disciples that they will receive much more than they ever give up from following Jesus. Much is given up in renouncing the world, but much more is gained. What is it that we gain? It is peace with God, and contentment of mind and heart. It is spiritual blessings of communion with God and the assurance that whatever life may bring to us, we are safe in the arms of Jesus. We gain the blessing of joy. The world gives momentary happiness, but the kingdom of God gives lasting joy. Our joy is in the Lord. He walks with us along the way of life, and we have blessed communion with him. We know that he is working all things for our good, and that nothing in earth or heaven can separate us from his love.

The world gives only passing happiness, and always leaves a thirst and hunger for more, but in the kingdom of God we have solid joys and lasting treasure.

Following on from this Jesus assures those who renounce the world for the kingdom of God that they are assured of eternal life in the age to come. By this Jesus is speaking about life beyond the grave. The fact is that all human beings are born immortal. Whether we are a member of the kingdom of God or the kingdom of this world, when we leave this world by physical death, we will not end our existence. Those who have lived for this world will know eternal existence in hell with Satan and all his evil angels. Only those who are members of the kingdom of God will spend eternity in the presence of God and Jesus Christ.

This is eternal life that we might know God and Jesus whom he has sent. Eternal life is not simply eternal existence. The people of the world have this in hell. Eternal life is a perfect life of love and righteousness in the presence of God. It is to know joy unspeakable and full of glory. We taste of this now, and have its fullness in Christ's eternal glory.