Chapter 15

“Let’s hear a few more stories before it gets to late,” Miriam said as she leaned over to light a small oil lamp.
“We were somewhere, some town. I can’t remember all the places, but I remember the people. There was this man. A wealthy young man. He was dressed in the finest clothes I had seen in a while. He had several servants accompanying him and he rode on a beautiful Stallion. His manner spoke of position and fortune, and he was very handsome. So much so that some of the young women in our company wished him to stay and travel with us. Even in the midst of revolution, the basics of love and life carry on. I can’t deny how marvelous this young man was to look at, but past his dark smokey eyes, lay a saddness that spoke many words he didn’t need to say. I watched him as he purposely sought out Jesus. This young man had a mission. He had questions that he knew only the Master could answer and he pressed on as he caught sight of Jesus. He made no introductions of himself. He very pointedly asked “Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?” Jesus said. “Why are you calling me good? No one is good – only God. You know the commandments, don’t you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealling, no lying, honor your father and mother.” He said, “I’ve kept them all for as long as I can remember.” When Jesus heard that, he said. “Then there’s only one thing left to do; sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The young man became very sad as some of the young women became very hopeful. But he was quite rich and I assumed that that caused his countenance to fall. Seeing his reaction, Jesus said. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God’s kingdom? I’d say it’s easier to thread a camel through a needle’s eye than get a rich person into God’s kingdom.” I understood the young man’s struggle. To have everything yet to feel so alone. I guess the difference between us was that he had kept the commandments when I refused to believe they even existed. But just as bitterness held me where I was bound for so long, possessions seemed to hold this young man in chains. I wonder if this young man had thought that if you follow the rules, you could keep the bounty. It wasn’t that Jesus wanted the things he had or that the young man had to live completely poor. Others in our company had money. So what was it that made this man so sad. Was it his security in the fortune he had or was it in following the laws of God. He had all he wanted but didn’t understand that the best of it all was free. What Jesus offered him was something beyond wealth, intelligence or following the rules. That’s when I learned there was more to God’s kingdom than being kind to others, loving our neighbors, or following the laws. It requied sacrifice. Something this young man was not willing to do.”