“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.