Entering the Kingdom

Despite what many people think, getting into the United Kingdom is not easy. Firstly, it’s costly. Someone visiting from a developing country has to first go to the British Embassy and pay for a Visa interview, pay for the visa, provide proof they have enough money in their bank account to support themselves once inside the UK, provide the details of the person in the UK they are visiting, provide proof of how much money that person has in their bank accounts. And sometimes after all that they are refused a visa, often with no reason being given to them. Even those who attempt to enter illegally pay huge costs to criminal gangs who put their lives at risk by sending them across the channel and seas on leaky boats.

Entrance into the United Kingdom is COSTLY, requires proof of SELF-SUFFICIENCY and, if you want to at some point apply for full citizenship, you need to pass a Life in the UK exam and pay thousands of pounds in order to QUALIFY for a passport. It’s the same to enter most countries in this world. You have to pay a price and meet strict entry requirements.

I think this is probably what the rich young man in today’s Gospel passage was thinking when he came to Jesus. He believed that the Kingdom of God was like the kingdoms of the world.

He knew he had a lot of money and resources and wanted to find out how much it would cost him to receive eternal life in God’s Kingdom. What would be the price? How much of the money in his bank account would be sufficient? What qualifications did he have for entry? He comes to find out the answers from the “GOOD” teacher.

Before Jesus answers him, he asks a question: “Why do you call me good?” and then states, “No one is good but God alone.” Jesus then lists some of the laws of the Kingdom of God. Do not murder, do not steal, do not lie, honour your parents, etc.

When the rich man hears this he is probably feeling quite relieved. He has grown up in a religious family learning these commandments, reciting the Law at his bar mitzvah, when he officially came of age. He is confident that he possesses what it takes to qualify for the kingdom.

So he confidently declares that he qualifies for entry. I’ve been following the commandments since I was a child. I have enough good deeds to enter.

Jesus tells him that he lacks something, despite his riches. He tells him to sell everything he owns, give it to the poor, to gain the kingdom of God.

The man goes away grieving. He loved being rich. He loved and depended on his wealth. And because of this he walked away from choosing the kingdom of God.

But he walked away grieving because he misses Jesus’ point. Jesus is not saying that having money is wrong. He was saying that sometimes it can insulate us from what we lack. The rich man lacked something. Though he was rich he didn’t realise that he was spiritually poor. His money was not enough, his family credentials were not enough, His temple attendance were not enough. His good works were not good enough to buy his way into God’s kingdom.

As Jesus was at pains to point out: “Noone is good but God”. Entry into the Holy Kingdom of God requires Holy goodness. And no human possesses it.

Like the man in the passage, our riches, our qualifications, our good and charitable works can sometimes keep us away from the realisation that we need a saviour. That we fall short of God’s Holiness. That we don’t qualify to enter His Kingdom.

Because, unlike entering the United Kingdom, entering the Kingdom of God is about what we let go of, not what we have.

Jesus tells His disciples that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. What is he talking about? Some Bible scholars say that the eye of the needle was a narrow gateway entrance into a city. It was so narrow that traders had to unload the packages from the saddles of their camels in order for the camel to fit through and then reload them once they'd gotten the camel through the gateway.

It wasn't impossible for a camel to enter. But it was impossible if the trader would not remove the precious load the camel was carrying.

Likewise, when we depend and cling on to our perceived qualifications for entry, we are blocking ourselves from fully entering into the kingdom of God. Entry into the Kingdom of God has already been paid for through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God in Man, he took on flesh and lived his Godness, his Goodness, while on earth so that, through faith in Him, we can receive his goodness to cover our lack.

Our entry into the Kingdom of God is at a tremendous price, but thankfully we don’t have to pay it. Just receive it and let go of the things that make us hold back from entering into the Kingdom life fully.

Perhaps we could ask ourselves today, ‘What baggage do I need to lay down to fully enter into the kingdom rest that God has promised us and has already paid for us?’

Do we have any areas of religious pride, like the rich young man? Do we harbour a belief in our own moral superiority over other people?

Maybe you’re like me, and sometimes struggle to let things go when someone has hurt you in some way. Can we lay down any grudges or unforgiveness we may be holding on to?

Could it be a dream or plan for our life that we need to let go of in exchange for God’s plan?

Or maybe it's a precious sin, we are clinging on to. A habit, behaviour or relationship that we know God’s word is challenging us about. Have we been gossiping but masking it as ‘concern’? Have we slandered other people, exposing their faults to others instead of allowing the love of God to allow us to overlook their weaknesses. Are we using a cloak of religiosity and tradition to mask a distance in our relationship with God?

God’s Word is sharper than a two-edged sword and cuts into our conscience. It calls us to examine our attitudes and opinions that do not align with the values of His Kingdom.

And if God is speaking to us this morning. If He is asking us to let go of something. What can we do?

The Good news is we can enter the throne of Grace with boldness because of what Jesus has laid down for us. He is our sponsor, He is the one with enough in His account to vouch for us and cover our entry into the Kingdom. Jesus is our High Priest. A High Priest who can empathise with our weakness. A High Priest who has been tested at every stage and passed the tests where we all too often fail. We have his score card. We have his wealth. We have his visa and qualifications. We have this as a free gift. We can enter in to God’s Kingdom, enter into God’s presence, with boldness because the price of our entry has already been paid.

Let's remember then, to allow God’s Holy Spirit and His Word to show us and to cut away those things that we need to let go of. Let us enter as we are today. Our qualification is that we have one plea – the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our confession is that no-one is good but God. And we have the good news Jesus shares with His disciples that, with God, all things are possible. Our lack of entry qualifications cannot close us out of his Kingdom. With God all things are possible.

He loves us. He invites us to enter His kingdom. He has paid the price of entry. Let's acknowledge what we lack. Take off the baggage of pretense we may be carrying and go to Him just as we are.

Just as we are, God will receive. He will welcome us, forgive us, clean us and give us rest and peace in His kingdom.