# 597 - Today's Du-votional Living Word comes from: Mr 10:31 But many who are first shall be last, and the last, first."
Jesus has just finished speaking of the necessity of forsaking all and following Him and the rewards associated with that path. He concludes with a stern warning. The sternness of the warning is found in the word, “last.”
He is not using the term in the sense of a pecking order, He is using it as a dividing line. The “last” are those left outside the gates of heaven, which means the “first” are those who will be admitted into heaven.
This is especially important for those who have enjoyed an outward attachment to the church, but have lost their first love. For whatever reason, Jesus has been crowded out of their hearts. When such people were baptized, they were among the first, but unless they persevere in their God-given faith, they will be last, left on the outside looking in.
Don't rely on your baptism alone for salvation. Mr 16:16 makes it clear that baptism must be accompanied by faith. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Can it be any plainer than that? Baptism plus belief equals salvation. Baptism minus belief equals condemnation. In other words without enduring faith, you become the first that was last....baptized or not.
Father, let this be a wake up call for all of us. We are either in love with Jesus or not. There is no room for the cold or lukewarm. Help us to live a daily surrendered life to You.
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