In the earliest days of the Christian church, martyrs laid down their lives rather than deny their faith in Christ. And even in our own generation, thousands of believers have suffered imprisonment, persecution, and death. In fact, more people have perished for their commitment to Jesus in the last hundred years than in all previous centuries put together.

Although we may be spared from such costly loyalty to Jesus Christ, we may experience rejection by family and friends, or we may encounter misunderstanding, ridicule, and loneliness. Yet, oh, what we gain for all eternity! And even in this world there are blessed gains that more than outweigh any losses.

When the apostle Peter pointed out to Jesus just how much he and the other disciples had left to follow Him (Lk. 18:28), Jesus replied, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life" (vv.29-30).

That's true of every Christian. What may seem to be loss will prove, by God's grace, to be gain. As believers, we are guaranteed to be winners.  — Vernon C. Grounds