Matthew 19:23-34
All Things are Possible with God
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, 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."
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
27Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
28Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Jesus tells us that it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven...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...When we have wealth, we can be more focused on material things than we are on our Father and His Son...This makes it hard to get to heaven...But God can do anything...With God all things are possible and yet it has to be a part of His Plan...He is Provident...God is in Control...
Many at the time of Jesus when He was on earth, and probably even some of His disciples thought that wealth was a blessing of God...People thought that material wealth was part of God's favor...So the disciples were greatly astonished by Him saying this on wealth...So they ask, "Who then can be saved?"...Jesus told them "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."...Material things keep us focused on our houses, our cars, our TVs, our stereos, or simply put, focused on our wealth...It hinders our relationship with God...Being rich can get in the way of our salvation...Richness can expose people to more temptations and how we think...Things like greed, lust, competition with others, coveting of more things, pride, a possible arrogance about our success, how hard we have worked, and so on...Maybe in our minds, we start and are continually looking for the next material thing...A simple life maybe an easier to follow His teachings...The way to heaven is a narrow gate and only a few find it...But wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it Matthew 7:13-14)...Wealth can make us forget about Truth and Love...
Peter said we have left everything we had to follow you, what will there be for us...Peter knew about the other disciples...He knew they were not materially rich...He, Andrew, John, and James were fishermen, who left their nets and boats to follow Him...Jesus tells the Twelve that those who have followed Him at the end of time and at the renewal of all things, He will sit on a glorious throne...The Twelve will also have a throne, judging the twelve tribes of Israel...And everyone who has left their houses and family and their material wealth for His sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life...But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first...
Jesus will sit with the Twelve disciples and judge us on judgment day...We will be judged by the doctrines He has taught us in Scripture...
Jesus teaches us that those who reject the treasures of earth and its comfort and follows Him will be rewarded...May we pray that God gives us faith to follow His Son in this hope He brings us on our judgment day...Jesus when He tells us that the last will be first and the first will be last, gives us an idea that heaven will not look and will not be like earth...Many of the rich, the famous, the powerful, the popular, the strong, the ones that are satisfied and comfortable on earth will be last...Many of the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who have searched for the righteousness and the Truth, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for Him will be first...
Nobody deserves to go to heaven...We are sinners...This is why we are afraid of death...Justice must be done at the renewal of all things..Thank God that He sent us Jesus for us sinners...God's grace can overcome even seemingly impossible obstacles...With God all things are possible...