And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For 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 those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?” But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (vs24-27)
Bless God. He gives salvation to sinners, enabling us to do what we never could, which is forsake everything for the Son (vs24-30). We are prone to destruction and will perish, denying salvation in Christ, if it's left up to us. We were cursed in the Garden, and the curse means that we hate Christ and will not come - meaning that we'll be against Him, refusing His truth. Yet, God in mercy is able to do what we cannot, quite easily. He can give grace, cast out Satan, and give us new desires for glory and holiness (Ezek 36:26-27). He can save, because He Himself fulfilled the requirements in Christ Jesus, and He gives the power. We count wealth and earthly privileges higher than the soul; God counts us more valuable than our ignorance would dictate, so He gives us the power to do what we cannot. What is your hope? Is it you, or is it God doing the impossible?
Secondly, we can't judge God or how we're doing by circumstances (vs31-34). Jesus said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again”. We may appear to be forsaken to ourselves, to the outside world, and to the natural eye, but we are not, if our path lines up with God.
The Lord Jesus, appeared to be losing, when He was winning. He was under the curse, hated by men, mocked and despised, and yet in the hour of His GREATEST agony, He saved the elect from sin, redeeming us by the agony of the cross. God resurrected instead of forsaking Him, and God was well-pleased with His Son. Yet, circumstances, because of His faithfulness and because of God's purpose, were painful indeed.
Likewise, don't judge your relationship with God or His favor by feeble sense. Do you walk according to scripture? Are you about your Master's business? Do you love God? These things must be answered, and when we're certain of our way, then we rest in peace, hoping in the God of the bible, rather than doubting Him because of how we feel.
Many churches are tiny, insignificant, and forgotten by men. We are mocked and ridiculed, and the world says, “If you were better, you'd have a bigger assembly. You should quit. If God hasn't added thousands to you, then what good are you. Do something else.” But, everyone isn't ordained to pastor 10,000 people, and many of the early saints had church in the home (Philemon 1:2; 1 Cor 16:19). Yes, thousands were saved on different occasions, and the apostles and others spoke in power. Yet, Philemon, Priscilla, and Aquila, among others, had churches in their homes where they worshiped God, united with brethren, and heard the ministry of the word. If we look at success rates, then there's only a few in the eyes of men. If we look at the word of Christ, then every assembly in ORDER, every place where God is sincerely and accurately worshiped, is the house of God, the pillar of the truth; it is a place where God is meeting with sinners and saints (1 Tim 3:14-15). You may not be doing all that you've wanted, and your desires for success may be on hold or forever banished away into mediocrity or nothingness before men, but it won't matter if you worshiped in a cave or were chased from place to place (Heb 11:35-38). It will matter that you worshiped, did God's will from the heart, and you could point to Scripture and say, “This is my authority to go on” (2 Cor 1:12).
Finally, the cry of mercy is heard (Luke 18:35-43). We read, “So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me... So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, What do you want Me to do for you? He said, Lord, that I may receive my sight”. We don't say, “merit”, and we don't make promises that we can't keep. We say, “have mercy on me”, and the Son of God stops.
Can you do this? Can you and I live dependent upon mercy and expectant of it? Mercy is a GREAT cry of confidence to those who know the Lord. We are in misery, a desperate trial, but MERCY gets God's ear, and He will show mercy to us continually. We can be sure of mercy, even though it is painful to need it.
We tell sinners, “Don't be afraid to admit you're wrong. God is so merciful.” Tell yourself the same. Don't be afraid to admit your desperate need and misery. Don't be afraid, as if it means that hope is lost! Not when mercy is designed for the helpless and needy, not when God stops in His tracks to show mercy to ALL who call on Him (Rom 10:12-13)!
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