Will You Go Through the Eye of the Needle?
Sunday, October 02, 2011
By Rev. James May
Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
This young man was a man of position; a man of great wealth, and highly respected among the Jews for all that he had been able to accomplish in such a short time. He undoubtedly had a great mind for business, and was more likely, schooled in the ways of the Pharisees. According the standards of Jewish society, he was a rising star and a great role model for all other young people in Israel. He was a man among men, having earned what recognition was given to him through hard work and long hours.
But he was a man that was also mindful of the fact that this life he was now enjoying would one day come to an end. He believed in a life after death and he also knew that inheriting that life after death required something of him. He desired to know what that something was?
Down deep inside, there was always something gnawing on his heart, something telling him that something was lacking, something that stood between him and the eternal life that he wanted so much. But what was it that was blocking his path? What was it that never allowed him to have peace and to have an assurance of his entrance into Heaven?
I have to admire his curiosity and his heart-felt desire to know the truth. This young man was not like so many of our day who seem to go through life “getting all they can; and canning all they get”. Though he had amassed much wealth; he know that there was more to life than just having things. There was an uneasiness in his heart; a feeling that nothing of this world could take away; a worry for his soul that nothing he owned could relieve.
Jesus had already left town and was walking with the disciples toward Jerusalem when this young man came running from behind him as fast as he could. He just had to talk to Jesus while there was a chance because he didn’t know if Jesus would ever pass that way again. He was right in running to catch the Lord, for this was the final journey of Jesus to Jerusalem where he would be crucified upon the cross.
The young man knew that there was something special about Jesus, but he didn’t understand that Jesus was the Son of God. He considered the Lord to be one of the great Rabbi of Israel and perhaps this Rabbi could give him the answer that his heart longed for.
Oh that we could all learn to do what this rich young man did! At least he knew where to run to for his answer! Too many people today are blinded by Satan and don’t know where to go to get the answers for their questions in life.
In some ways people are like this young ruler: they seek to find answers in the things of this world. We seek to find the answers to our need through other people. How many marriages today start out because that young man or woman finds someone who they think will meet their needs; only to discover after a short time that the other partner in their marriage can not meet their needs and, in fact, only adds to the heavy burden they were already carrying. First there is fighting over what each one wants; then they go searching for someone else to meet that need; then the marriage ends in a divorce court and the cycle starts all over again. A marriage should be based on what can I give for this person that I love so much; not on what can this person who is so attractive to me, do for me? A marriage that begins with each partner focused only on themselves will nearly always end up in a parting of the ways. Too many today are focused only on what someone else can do to make me happy.
Sometimes we seek to find an answer to the emptiness inside by filling our lives with things that just take up our space and time and keep us occupied so that we don’t have time to think about the fact that life is fleeting and there’s an eternity coming at us fast.
We fill up our time with social things like Facebook, Twitter, Tweeting, Texting, calling and friends. We can’t stand even a moment of silence so we have the radio, the MP3 player, the IPOD and TV all going at the same time. We can’t sit still so we have to get out on the highway, running the roads, going everywhere and nowhere at the same time while we are talking, texting and letting the music play. We read books, listen to the news all day long, or have our favorite programs that consume our spare time. But in all of this, there is often very little, if any, time for the things of God. None of these things will give us eternal life. All they do is occupy the life that we have now so that there is no time to think of tomorrow, much less eternity.
Sometimes we seek the answer in the job; or in investing our time and energy to build a retirement so that we enjoy the good life at some point in time. Too many people today work their whole life away; giving everything they’ve got to prepare for the day when they can finally kick back and enjoy life, only to discover when that time comes, that they never have enough, or that somehow it has vanished in a puff of smoke, so the emptiness and worry goes on.
Nothing of this world satisfies like Jesus, so why don’t we take a lesson from this rich young man and learn to run to Jesus to find an answer? There is no other source that can give us peace and calm assurance of salvation outside of Jesus. No other faith can make the promise that Jesus does. I have not found one faith, one religious system, or one thing in this world that can promise you salvation outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only in his promises can that assurance be had, and it is not based on how good you are, but upon the power of his blood to cleanse you from sin. There’s no other way but through Jesus!
Mark 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.
Mark 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Here again is where most of us live. We know right from wrong; even though we don’t always do that which is right. But we do try our best to live a good life. We all know what is sin and what is not.
We know that living together outside of marriage is sin; no matter how long we live together or how much we might have true love, until that union is sanctioned by giving our vows before God and man, it’s still considered fornication and adultery in the eyes of God. First we get married the way that God intended and then we repent of the sin; then God will bless the union. Until then it is sin.
We know that we are to serve God, and we all make an attempt at that, even though we also know that we fall far short of where we should be, or could be, in Jesus.
We all know to never lie, cheat, steal and all of those things.
Like the rich young ruler we can say that we have tried to live in such a manner that we won’t be guilty of violating God’s law. Most people you talk to think that they are doing alright. Regardless of how they live; when that day comes that they leave this life, somehow they are going to make it.
It’s like one story I’ve heard about a widow and her son who were at her husband’s funeral. The preacher began to talk about how great the man had been. He had been a great provider, a faithful husband, a loving father, a faithful Christian and a model citizen. His praises went on and on until finally the widow told her son, “Billy, go up there and see if we are in the wrong place. See if that’s really your Dad in that coffin. It sure doesn’t sound like it to me.”
Like that young man who came running to Jesus, we go to the Lord with all of our self-righteous baggage and claims to fame. A lot of people are legends in their own mind. We try to present our case to the Lord to prove that we are worthy of his acceptance. In our own way of thinking, everything is alright.
The world bases its worthiness on good works, obedience to the Law, recognizing that there is a higher power that rules in the affairs of men, and hopes for a better tomorrow. Our way appears to be right in our own eyes; but the Bible tells us that these ways will lead to destruction. Even so, we come to God expecting God to accept us just as we are and approve of what we are.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Here’s an important point to remember – No matter who you are, where you come from, what you have done or not done – Jesus loves you right now and he is always willing to accept you and give you the opportunity to have eternal life and that assurance of salvation.
Salvation of your soul is not free. Oh it is a free gift from Jesus, because he paid the price for your sin on the cross, but nevertheless your salvation will come with a price that is required of you! The price that you must pay is to live a life that is fully surrendered to Jesus; laying aside your own ambitions; counting as nothing all of the wealth of this present world; placing Jesus as first and foremost in your heart; and then committing your will to his will to work in whatever place that the Spirit of the Lord will guide you. That’s what “taking up the cross and following Jesus is all about”. None of this will earn your salvation, because its not based on good works, but upon the promises of the Lord and the power of his blood to cleanse you from sin.
Mark 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Here’s where so many fail today in obtaining that promise of eternal life. Like the young rich man, we have our bubble of self-righteousness busted by discovering that our goodness is not enough. We discover that in order to follow Jesus, we can no longer follow our own desires. We discover that we must become willing to give up everything to get everything. Self can no longer reign in us, but Jesus must be our King and Lord.
Like the rich young man, we often consider this price too high, for we love the things of this world too much and consider the price too high.
The rich young ruler couldn’t give up his wealth, neither could he accept the life of persecution for the cause of Christ. His pride just wouldn’t let him take that step. His whole life had been spent in creating within himself the respect of the people. How could he now surrender everything to follow Jesus?
Mark 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
All of us want eternal life. You have come this morning because you want to know just what it’s going to take to make your entrance into that place called Heaven. You have come today because down deep inside there is a need; a need that can only be filled by Jesus.
The Lord says to you, “Can you get through the eye of the needle as you are? Can you get through carrying all of your self righteous baggage; all of your worldly dreams and ambitions; all of your faith in your own good works; or your love for the things of this world?”
Whether you believe that this passage is referring to a literal eye of a needle, or some little hole in the wall where a camel had to kneel down, be unloaded and then pulled through with a rope, is immaterial. What matters is that carrying all of this baggage, you can’t get through either one without God’s help, or doing it God’s way.
Why were the disciples so astonished; so surprised, by Jesus’ answer? The disciples still did not understand that Jesus was establishing a spiritual kingdom. They were expecting him, as their Messiah, to establish and earthly kingdom that would be filled with great wealth, power and grandeur. They thought that all of the rich men, and men of position and power, would soon become his subjects, and become some of the greatest supporters of the new kingdom. Now Jesus was saying that it was impossible that such men could be in his kingdom. It just didn’t make sense to them at all.
The ways of God are always astonishing to men. His thoughts are above our thoughts and his ways are far above our ways. That’s what the Bible tells us. God thinks on a whole different dimension than we do. His thoughts are in the supernatural, based upon full knowledge and eternal purposes. We are confined to thinking only in time and earthly terms. You can’t figure God out; no matter how much you try, or how much intelligence you have; or how much research you do. God is past finding out and far greater than any imagination of man. His ways and his existence must be accepted by faith alone. Then, after faith is alive, God will begin to reveal himself to us in ways that we could never imagine.
Men are astonished at the simplicity of the gospel. To the mind of man, just accepting Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross is too easy. We want to add our good works; our obedience to God’s word; and our own thoughts to try and make those things a part of God’s salvation plan, but it won’t work. It’s not by works of righteousness, but by the faith in the power of Jesus’ blood to cleanse from sin. Salvation only comes through faith in Christ and nothing else.
That’s why we can have a calm assurance of salvation; because it is based on the Word of God and the promises of Jesus alone, which can never fail; and not upon whether we have done enough good or lived a good enough life. I know I’m saved because God’s Word says I’m saved.
If I base that belief on God’s written plan of salvation, then I can stand upon his promises in absolute knowledge that what God says will come to pass. Christians are the only people on earth who can know beyond any doubt that they are going to Heaven. Everybody else is trying to earn that right until the day they die; and some are relying on being saved even after death. I want to know for sure right now; because there’s no changing anything after I leave this world.
Mark 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Looking at salvation through the eyes of men, it seems such an impossible task. How can I take up my cross, as Jesus said, and be fully certain that I’m living right and in full obedience to his call upon my life? Do I ever miss the mark? Have I served God enough; been faithful enough; been true to my promises to live for God? Is my heart focused too much on family, friends or the things of this world? Am I focused too much on earning a living? Where is that line that says that I’m good enough, have I done enough or have obeyed enough? Trying to figure that out will drive you crazy because in yourself there is never enough. We always fall short of perfection!
The Apostle Paul, at one point in his ministry, said that he had to pay a price for his salvation. He had to bring his body under subjection to God’s law. That was a moment when God had to reassure Paul that he was going through the eye of the needle in spite of what he was feeling at the moment.
Dr. Billy Graham, after having preached to thousands upon thousands and seeing them come to Christ, at one point wondered if he would be saved himself. Satan loves to bring doubts and fear upon us, always reminding us of how much we may have failed or not fully obeyed God. But God isn’t worried about our doubts and fears. His word is true and his power limitless and Billy Graham’s trust in Jesus’ blood was all that was needed. He went through the eye of the needle.
David Wilkerson, a great man of faith, and a man whose love for God and man is well documented, always struggled with the question of whether God truly loved him or not. Every one of us will face those times of doubt or fear, wondering if we are where we should be with God. But God brought David Wilkerson through the eye of the needle in spite of it all.
You will face your own times of doubt and fear concerning your worthiness of salvation, but glory be to God, it is possible with God, and impossible for his promises to fail. Salvation is a supernatural thing. Jesus’ blood cleanses all sin. His power to deliver is not limited. He can pull us through the needle’s eye even with a lot of baggage if we are trusting in him to do the pulling. We can’t push our way through the eye; we just hold on and let Jesus do the work for us.
The important thing is to sell out to Christ and live for him; then trust in him to do what he says he will do. We cannot live in sin; presume upon God’s love and grace and willfully live in rebellion; but even with some of the things of this world that cause us to fail, God will still bring us through.
You can have perfect peace in Jesus today if you have put your trust in his word and in his sacrifice for your salvation. In Jesus, there is assurance. In him there is deliverance. In him there is cleansing for sin. In him there is victory. In Jesus we cannot fail.
You can make it through the eye of the needle, because with God all things are possible. You can make it through and the baggage of this world will simply fall away through the power of the blood of Christ. There is no other way through the eye of the needle without Jesus for it is only by his power that all of the things of this world will be taken away and through his blood all sin will be washed away.
You’ll go through the eye of the needle and come out the other side squeaky clean and whole because with God all things are possible!
Have you put your trust in Jesus this morning? There’s no doubt that we all carry our own load of worldly baggage that would prevent us from going through to eternal life, but if you surrender your heart to Christ, and then learn to trust in his blood to save you, that baggage will be cleansed from your heart when the time comes to leave this world behind.
If you want to have eternal life, you will have to pass through the eye of the needle. The only way through is through the power of Jesus Christ and trusting in him to do the work. No man can pass that way without Jesus leading the way.
