PUT MY EYES ON THE ETERNAL, NOT THE TEMPORAL

PUT MY EYES ON THE ETERNAL, NOT THE TEMPORAL

 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. —Matthew 19:23-30

            Where is our focus?  Is it on being rich in this world?  Is that our focus?  Jesus said, “Only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.”  Why did He say this?  Because people can become more tied to their wealth than to the Lord!

            This was the case with the young man that came to Jesus with the question about eternal life.  His wealth was more important to Him than our Lord (Matthew 19:16-23).  It is not impossible for wealthy people to live for Jesus, but wealth can be distracting from Him.

            Now, who are the rich?  At what point is a person considered rich?  We in the west are rich in wealth when compared to much of the world.  Is this why the church appears to be “weak” in the west?  Is it because we depend too much on our wealth and not enough on our Lord?  Are we living comfortably to the point of being distracted from the “race marked out for us?”  Are we westerners keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus as we run or do we have our eyes fixed too much on our wealth?  Are we depending on our Lord or on our wealth?

            Questions… but truly what are the answers?  Survey our lives and see.  Jesus encouraged us to look beyond this life to the life to come in order not to be distracted from the race He has marked out for us.  There are things and people that will be left behind to accomplish His purposes.  At times we leave the ones we love for a period of time to serve Him.  All of this is possible as we look to eternity and not just to the temporal.  Those who focus on wealth are looking just on the temporary.  Let us look to the eternal.  Yes Father may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and by the authority of Jesus.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkZE8AogDE