The First Shall Be Last

Heard an excellent sermon yesterday. It was over Romans 6:18 and  Matthew 19:30.

 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:18

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.  
Matthew 19:30

The preacher (a college student actually) spoke on how we as Christians can struggle with the sin of superiority. Huh. Have I ever looked down on someone who wasn't as good as I thought they should be, or someone that had messed up their life, or chose to turn away from God? Sadly, I have to say . . . Yes. I have done that. Many times. But what does Matthew 19:30 have to do with that?

I used and heard that verse used many many times in elementary school. Of course we used it in the most theological context possible . . . in line.

"Christina, you can be line leader on the way to recess." announces our teacher.

Hanna pouts and whispers to me, "I wanted to be line leader."

As Christina takes her place in the front of the line with a flounce and a little smile, someone decides to speak up.

"The last shall be first and the first shall be last!"

Tim, in the back of the line, pumps his fist, "Ha! That means I'll be first in heaven!!"

Funny how our position in heaven always changed every time we had new line leaders. But hey, our 2nd grade minds hadn't really wrapped themselves around the concept of heaven and judgment yet.

But I hope that you all understand that Matt. 19:30 is not talking about our position in line. Not at all. I honestly hadn't thought about that verse in a while, but yesterday, I understood it. It's not talking about position, it's talking about equality. It's not about first and last, but about how there won't be a first or a last at all. When God looks at me, He doesn't see me at all. Thankfully, He sees Christ and His atoning blood. Christ covers my sin and makes me pure before Christ. That's how it is for every single Christian. How can there be a first or a last, when we are all in the same position under the blood of Christ?

The sin of superiority. Am I better than another Christian? No way! I'm just a sinner saved by grace alone.
The sin of inferiority. I feel like a terrible Christian sometimes. I fail all the stinkin' time. But guess what? I'm still just a sinner saved by grace! How awesome is that! Think of Paul and all the work he did and the souls he won to Christ. I'm on the same level with him, under Christ!

Because of Christ's sacrifice, no one finishes last in heaven.