Monday, February 20, 2017
Mark 10:25-27 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
We can all appreciate how small the eye of a needle is. Late in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells His disciples that, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:25).
Jesus was telling us that having a lot of earthly wealth is a special obstacle when we are talking about becoming members of God's kingdom (coming to faith). The disciples were shocked. They said, "Who then can be saved?" (Mark 10:26). After all, who doesn't want to be rich? If it's easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into God's kingdom, what about the rest of us? Who can enter God's kingdom if that's true? Christ's answer? "With men it is impossible, but not with God..."
Christ's answer reveals that man doesn't bring himself to faith. Whether rich or poor, male or female, God works faith in the human heart. Unlike sinful man, God knows no limits to what He can do.
Knowing this, don't be afraid to bring any request to your Heavenly Father because there is nothing that we can ask of God that God would reply, "I'm sorry, but that's impossible." He has already done the impossible by sending His Son Jesus into the world to open the narrow gate of heaven to us sinners, washing away our sins so that we can go through that gate clothed in His perfect righteousness.
