Page 51 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

God knows that it requires a path of affliction to provide an environment for spiritual
growth and righteousness. The majority of Christians, failing to allow God to choose their
path and to lead them in all decisions, are also failing to gain in conformity to Christ. At best
they have greatly slowed their growth to spiritual maturity.
The disciples of Christ were amazed when Yahshua spoke the following words:

Matthew 19:23-24
"Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And
again I say to 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."

Many have misunderstood the message of Christ in these words, for they have
mistakenly equated “the eye of a needle” with a sewing needle. Camels do not go through
the eye of a sewing needle, so this makes little sense. In the days of Christ cities were
surrounded by walls for protection against invading enemies. Gates were set in the walls to
allow people and materials to come and go. These gates were closed at night and in times
of danger, but it was still necessary to allow a limited flow of people in and out. Therefore,
built into the large gates was a small door which could be opened to let a man in or out. This
small door was called “the eye of the needle.”
Camels at the time were used for transport of goods. They would be piled high with
merchandise and goods to be traded. If a man came to the gates after they had been closed
and needed to enter, it was possible to go through and take his camel along, but it was very
difficult. The master of the camel would have to take all the merchandise off of the camel,
and the camel would have to go through the gate on his knees.
This is a picture of how a rich man must enter the kingdom of heaven. Getting on
one’s knees speaks of humility, and removing all the goods from the camel’s back speaks of
the necessity of a rich man giving up all his possessions.

Matthew 19:21-22
Yahshua said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and
give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But
when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one
who owned much property.

The word rendered as “perfect” in this Scripture is the Greek word teleios. This Greek
word means “perfect, mature, of full age.” What Yahshua was telling this rich young ruler
of the Jews is that if he wanted to come to maturity as a son of God, then he needed to free
himself from all his wealth which was making his life very comfortable and easy, and then
come follow Christ. Christ would lead this young man down an afflicted path, but it would
lead to spiritual maturity. Holding onto his possessions, and clinging to his comfortable
lifestyle, would hinder this man from coming to a perfect conformity to the image of Christ.
Most Christians think that the Lord’s words to this young ruler were exceptional. They
have been convinced by preachers of prosperity that this young man had an inordinate
affection for the world’s goods and therefore he was required to give them up, but not all
Christians need do so. What the saints have not understood is that the Lord is revealing a
very general principle through these words, a principle with application to the lives of all
Yahweh’s sons and daughters. A life of material ease and comfort will hinder all men from