In our discussions stemming from Matthew 19 this week, we were talking about the temptations and comforts of this world. It is so easy to consider the trappings of this life the ultimate goal. Money and the things it can buy are so difficult to resist.
Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God. That’s a pretty factual statement, especially considering what He says next: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The bottom line is NONE of us can get into the Kingdom of God without Christ.
But the rich man may not long for the Kingdom in the same way a poor man might. A rich man may be lulled by the delusion that he can depend on himself and needs no one to help him. His money can take care of any problem, and his problems don’t include the need for food or shelter. He is comfortable enough to not want.
Such complacency stunts striving for the Lord. But in the end, we discover it isn’t the end after all. It is barely the beginning. Eternal life is a long-ol’ time, my friend, and the distractions of this world will eventually be ashes blowing in the wind. Truth will no longer be masked or ignored.
When we grip to the things that do not last, we have no ability to reach for those that do. Imagine someone holding fast to rocks, starving because he won’t let go long enough to grab onto the banana sitting in front of him. So foolish, but I think it is shockingly more common than we like to admit.
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