Matthew 19:16-26 (NIV)
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
When GOD called Israel to migrate from Egypt to Canaan, easy as it seems for them though, but the promised land is only possible with GOD. Three major reasons why it is impossible for the Israelites: First, their flight is sudden that they have no enough food and water to drink in their (should be 40 days) journey, Second, they could not reach Canaan alive because of the elite Egyptians armies that chased them at the Red Sea. And third, even if they escaped from the hands of Egyptians and reached Canaan, they could not live there because of the huge, veritable giant people that occupied the region during that time. They said they felt like mere grasshoppers compared to those people inhabiting the promised land. (Numbers 13:30-33)
It is the same with the promised life in Heaven with GOD for us. Even science today can now offer a rocket ride to outer space, our journey there in Heaven is only possible with GOD. This journey will not be done with foot nor chariots nor spaceships with astronaut suits. This will be done with GOD through His Spirit whom GOD had given to us through His Son Christ Jesus. The Scripture in 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 says; “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
Saint Paul clearly said to the 1 Thessalonians in chapter 4:15-18. .”According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
As rocket ride required its passengers to prepare themselves for the trip, GOD required His chosen passengers to prepare themselves too. In this process, it is the work of the authorities to prepare their passengers according to the program designed by them. Compliance or submission of the passenger is necessary. The same with GOD. HE designed the program and already provided the handbook before calling His people to this ride; the Gospel of Salvation.
Again it is St. Paul who explained this in Ephesians 1:3-14 which says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
Our seal or visa to this ride is the Holy Spirit whom the Father had freely given us through Jesus Christ. If we believe and agree to every word that Jesus has said, we already comply and we will be given the Holy Spirit, and this is without limit. John 3:34-36 says, “ For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
GOD is gracious and abounding in love. We can apply now to be included in this amazing journey by asking the Father to provide us and prepare us for our Eternal Life in Heaven with HIM. Luke 11:13 encouraged us, “ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
So what are we waiting for? Talk to GOD now, His communication line is always open to those who seek Him with all his heart. (Jeremiah 29:13). GOD bless us all. AMEN
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