Have you ever seen a camel run? It’s pretty funny; they look a hot mess.
There was actually an episode of a tv show years ago that it reminded me of – two of the main characters found that they both love to run in Central Park, so they decided to run together. It was a nice idea until they discovered that they both ran very, very differently. One ran with steady breath, and rigid arms timed with her leg movement, and she made a whoosh-whoosh (obnoxiously so) noise every time her feet hit the pavement. The other ran with arms flailing, free-spirit, and jagged steps (quite frightening to the other park-goers who probably thought she was about to attack!). The point in their story, was that they were both embarrassed of the other, but yet didn’t see how off their own styles were. Similar to our own Christian walk (or run)- how often are we concerned with how others are performing their run?
Heb. 12:2a
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God…
It is so incredibly important that we keep our eyes on our Lord. He knows where he’s going- where we want to go too! We don’t have any place in our faith for distractions- yet the world around us is full of them. Now, back to that camel…
Matthew 19:16-24 tells of a rich young ruler who was asking Jesus about eternal life. After Jesus responds to him about selling all his possessions and returning to follow him, starting in verse 22 we read this:
That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go. As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”
Now that you’ve seen that camel galloping, do you understand the picture he is trying to paint? We, in our own humanity trying to earn our way with God, are even on our best day, simply all over the place. And, did you hear what the girl said to the camel at the end of the video? “That was too scary, I didn’t want to get anywhere near you” … hmm. Something to think about if we are trying to reach others for Christ. The rescue for us, comes in the next verse after the disciples asked, “what chance do any of us have?”:
Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.” (Matt. 19:26)
Consider for a second, if rich doesn’t mean moneyed, but plentiful. “He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go” … what are you holding on to, that breaks your heart to let it go?
The phrase “give up the ghost” comes to mind, a bit un-context, but if all the things of this world are going to pass away, then free up your hands, grab tightly to God! He will never disappoint. And besides, who wants to run like a camel anyways?
Prayers and Petition 