Understand that it requires that you don't be a pushover. If there's difficulties, then you keep going; you remain diligent, and you assert yourself to grow, and the promise is an abundant, or wealthy, abounding-in-resources entrance into the kingdom; which is in contrast to being saved, but having no reward at all.
Peter then tells us what it is to be an overcomer who inherits the First Resurrection: diligent pursuit of growth in your character, in Christ. Jesus taught that it's important to qualify, it's important to be considered, or counted, or assessed to be worthy of the calling; because the calling to work with Him, to be intimate with Him, and to share with Him in governing and bringing order to creation is such a big calling, such a high calling, that you need to be worthy of that calling.
I'll share with you some scriptures on that. Here's the first one, which was a question on the resurrection, and they're asking about what happens in marriage.
Luke 20:34-36 – “Jesus answered them and said: the sons of this age marry, and are given in marriage; but those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die anymore - they're in the same rank as the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection”.
He says that they are ‘counted worthy’ to attain that age and counted worthy to attain the resurrection. The Bible is very clear: everyone will rise from the dead; so, He's talking here about the First Resurrection, and being counted worthy to attain to it.
Now here's the thing. If Jesus teaches that you need to be accounted worthy, then He's teaching us that there's a possibility of not being in it. He's laying a foundation: The First Resurrection is not automatic. We need to live a life that God looks at and says: I consider it worthy of being put into this kingdom, into this realm - and that life will differ for everyone.
He said: “they will be counted worthy to attain that age”. That age is not referring to eternity; it's referring to a number of ages, beginning with the millennium, and the General Resurrection is expected, but He's talking about the limited resurrection - to get to it, you have to consider yourself worthy. He repeats this warning of ‘being considered worthy’ - it's repeated in many places, but here's one.
Luke 21:34-36 – “Take heed to yourselves (in other words, look out, take care, watch, be watchful) lest your hearts be burdened with carousing and drunkenness and cares of life, and the Day suddenly catches you unexpectedly, for it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the earth. Watch therefore and pray always you may be counted worthy to escape all those things and stand before the Son of Man”.
He's teaching that at the coming of the Lord there's a time of upheaval, but you should watch and pray, so you will be considered (or counted) worthy to escape all of that hassle; and the escape for us will be getting a resurrection body. The escape is coming to access the throne of God; nothing can touch us.
Paul said the same thing - made the same warning.
Ephesians 4:1 – “I, a prisoner of the Lord, beseech you walk worthy of the calling”.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – “You know we exhorted you, that you would walk worthy of God, who calls you to His own kingdom and glory”.
Notice again, the calling into the kingdom and glory of God relates to being worthy.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 – “…and may God give you, to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus reveals from heaven with His mighty angels; in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who don't know God, and those who don't obey the gospel (he's talking about the end time, the coming of the Lord) - these will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints”.
The glory of God is going to come forth from within us, and Jesus Himself would be admired in those who believe. When Jesus manifests Himself, our body will be changed, and He Himself will be visible to people. They will see and know this is Jesus, and he says: …and we pray that God would count you worthy of this calling, and you'd fulfil the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power.