Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
Will All be Equal in the Kingdom of God?

Will All be Equal in the Kingdom of God?

August 16, 2016 by GES Webmaster in Blog

Evaluation form marked "exceptional" with red pen.

by Ken Yates

When most Christians think of the Kingdom of God, they think that it will be a place where everyone is equal. It will be kind of like a communist utopia. In their view, the ideas of communism, where everyone is on equal footing, will be realized because Jesus Christ will be ruling over everything. Nobody will be richer or more powerful than anybody else. All such distinctions belong only to this world. Sin has caused these inequalities to exist. I think in most people’s minds a world where everyone is equal is the ideal place. If the Kingdom of God is not such a place, it is maintained, there would be jealousy among those who are not as important, rich, or powerful as others. If such conditions existed, at least some people in the Kingdom would not be perfectly happy. This is not possible because in the Kingdom everyone will be infinitely full of joy.

Even a cursory reading of the New Testament, however, tells us that that is not how the Kingdom of God will be. Jesus says there will indeed be those who are “great” in the Kingdom of God. There will be those who rule and those who don’t. There will be some who sit upon thrones and those who don’t. There will be crowns given to some for their faithful services and others will not receive such crowns. The Bible teaches us not only will such distinctions exist, but it is only just that the Kingdom of God will have such distinctions.

It seems to me that not only the Bible teaches us these things, but our experience does as well. I spent over two and half decades in the military. I loved pretty much everything about it. I enjoyed the people, the challenges, the travel, and my job. My experiences in the military taught me many valuable lessons. One of those lessons is that not all men (and women) are equal. Some rightly deserve to be greater than others.

This was most clearly seen when I worked with a soldier by the name of Gordon Roberts. He and I were both soldiers. In fact, we had the same rank and worked in the same office and had the same job. You would think that in the eyes of the military we were equal. But you would be wrong.

Gordon was a national hero. Because of his actions in Vietnam, he was awarded our nation’s highest medal, the Medal of Honor. As a result he received many privileges I did not. He received an extra check each month. He was invited to every presidential inauguration as an honored guest. He was constantly asked to speak at large events. Journalists came to interview him and even write books about him. He even got his own private parking place and special license plates from the state of Georgia.

Why was he greater than I was? Because he risked his life to save the lives of many other men. He deserved such honor. It was only just.

In the Kingdom, God will reward those who by their actions deserve such rewards. It is only just. There will be no jealousy because there will be no sin. May I add something else? Even though I have a sin nature, it was an honor (even in this world) to work alongside Gordon. I was happy that he did what he did so many years before. In the Kingdom we will all be glad that those who are great honored the Lord the way they did.

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

January 26, 2023

Will There Be Poor People in Heaven?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates and Bob Wilkin answer an interesting question about our status in Heaven or the quality of...
January 26, 2023

Is Mental Assent Adequate to Save? 

I recently read a few statements by Samuel Harris, one of the leaders of what is called New Atheism. As the label indicates, he is...
January 25, 2023

If a Man is Saved by Faith Alone, What is Happening in Matthew 25 With the Sheep and the Goats?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are answering a question about the judgment of the sheep and the goats...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Grace in Eclipse: A Study in Eternal Rewards (Second Edition) $15.00 $8.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Inerrancy for Dummies $7.95 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube