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- Written by: Don Goulding
“In fact, 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.” Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for mere humans is possible for God.” (Luke 18:25-27)
Trembling and in tears, a pregnant woman came after the Sunday service in Ranipet, India. She had converted to Christianity and wanted prayer for protection from her husband and neighbors. Her community would do anything to prevent her from leaving Hinduism, including beating her and abducting the coming child.
I’ve also seen extreme persecution in communist China, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and southern Mexico. Every country has an eye of the needle—some significant obstacle to Jesus. In wealthy countries, materialistic complacency will keep the majority out of heaven. That’s our eye of the needle.
Given the insurmountable hurdles it seems impossible, like no one can make it to Christ. Yet, in every land God brings some through their needle. There is not a hostile or hedonistic culture I have ministered in where I did not also find a thriving branch of the Christian family.
Seventy-nine thousand people become Christians each day somewhere in the world. Seventy-nine thousand times a day God makes the impossible possible. No wonder Jesus tarries in his return. To him these are not statistics, but individual, eternal children. He celebrates as each one reaches beyond their antagonistic culture to pass from death, through the eye of the needle, into life.
Prayer: Holy God, bring me through my impossible barriers.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
The Lord is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalms 28:8-9) (NIV)
A father dug a well with his children and taught them an important lesson.
“Let’s play a game. See if you can find a way out of this hole. I’ll stand outside the pit and you must get up to where I am. The only rule is that you can’t touch the ladder.”
The children debated the problem. The oldest sibling suggested they stand on each other’s shoulders. This enterprise failed and they tumbled to the bottom of the hole. Next, the middle child said they should leap as high as possible and grab the edge of the hole. This didn’t work because no one could jump high enough.
“I have an idea,” the youngest said. “Daddy please get in the hole.” The father complied and climbed down the ladder. “Bend down, Daddy.” The father did so, and the girl climbed onto her father’s back. “Now, go up the ladder.” As the father carried the little one out of the hole, her smile grew into a squeal. “There, I’m up where you are and I didn't touch the ladder.”
Everybody laughed and clapped.
“You see children, we were in a hole we dug by our own sin, a little deeper with every mistake. No amount of standing on the shoulders of the religious people who went before us, or jumping on the legs of self-effort could get us out. The only way out of our sin was for Jesus to come into our hole, bend down so any child might climb on, and carry us back to our heavenly Father.
“That’s why Jesus came to earth.”
Prayer: Humble Savior, thank you for lowering yourself to carry me.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
he LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. (Psalms 116:5-7) (NIV)
I picked my way down a dirt path around bare trees in Northern California. The smell of decaying forest bit in the nose. As I zipped my jacket the last inch against the cold, a foul spirit drove in from behind.
“You are a dirty sinner. Your idle fantasies and callous heart are detested by God.”
I pushed my hands deeper into my pockets and hunched over. There was bitter truth in those reminders. My frailty in the face of God’s holiness left my soul in defenseless silence. I staggered to a halt.
There are two sides to this coin of truth. Both must be considered. I am a dirty sinner, and I’m also completely forgiven. The message of Psalms 116 is stamped on the reverse side of the coin. The simplehearted who sorrow over their treachery are forgiven. God’s mercy has more efficacy than our sin.
To brood over my failure is to deny the full sufficiency of Christ’s redemption. Alternatively, absorbing myself only in God’s forgiveness ignores my ongoing sinfulness. The coin of truth must be continually turned and both sides examined—my weakness on one side and God’s substitutionary grace on the other.
With both halves of the truth in my grasp, I straightened and breathed in forgiveness. My exhale clouded the frosty air as my soul fell into the arms of grace.
Prayer: I am at rest once more, for you, Lord, have been good to me.