A Difficult Question

“And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” (Mark 10:23-26)

The rich young ruler, the embodiment of strength and success, has walked away from Christ. Jesus sounds forth a truth most grating to our worldly ears – “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed, but they may be able to rest comfortably. These men were not rich; rather, they had left everything to follow Jesus. It would not be difficult for them, or would it? Jesus adds one more line: “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!” How difficult for the rich and for everyone else! All the sons of Adam would find entering the kingdom of God to be nigh impossible. Suddenly, their amazement transformed into being “exceedingly astonished.” Yes, you can hear the tremor in their voice: “Then who can be saved?” Have we ever asked that question? Have we ever experienced that same astonishment?

Have we wrestled with that deep enmity towards God? Enmity does not always express itself in the harsh cruelty of a Cain or a Caiaphas; often, it expresses itself in the polite and civil friendship with the world (James 4:4). For the rich, young ruler, his enmity manifested itself in the love for the riches of the world over the righteousness of God. Each generation must face the same struggle. We have friends and phones of which we can spend hours upon hours, but our time with God is slim. The problem is not that the former is more fun; rather, the problem is our love for the latter is so little. Like the rich, young ruler, we may not drink, nor dance, nor go with girls that do. Wonderful, but why? Is it out of duty, or delight? Is it out of self-preservation or of salvation? We may submit to many of God’s laws, but not all and not for the right reason (Rom. 8:7). The law is our enemy because God is our enemy.

Have we grappled with our deep love of self? The rich, young ruler approaches Christ with an inflated sense of self-sufficiency – “What must I do?” Yes, “I” may be the skinniest letter, but it is the hardest to get around. “I am a good person.” “I answer when someone calls.” “I said a prayer.” “I walked down an aisle.” “I have done these things from my youth.” Oh, my friends, love and a cough cannot be hid. We are never as bad as others nor as guilty as others charge. Though the Bible speaks of us in the clearest of terms, it makes no difference (Ge. 6:5; Rom. 3:10-11). As George Herbert penned, “When the heart is on fire, the eyes are blinded with smoke.” Rich or poor, the love of self blinds us.

I ask again: have you asked that question? “Then who can be saved?” Could it be that churches across the country are full of watchers instead of worshippers because we have not wrestled with that question? Could it be that prayer is so little offered and Bibles so little opened because we have not wrestled with that question? Could it be that repentance is rare and forgiveness more so because we have not wrestled with that question? Our families and our friendships are coming undone at the very seams because we have not wrestled with that question. Until we are exceeding astonished at that question, we will not be exceedingly amazed with the answer: “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”