If you have ever seen "Star Wars" then this picture will look familiar to you. Its not from the movie, however, but from the university of Southern California. You guessed it; they can now really make holograms. Perhaps someday I will live long enough to see all of the science fiction of the 20th century come true. Today, anything seems possible. When this though settled in my mind, I remembered one of the first Bible verses I ever learned (highlighted in bold below).
Matthew 19:16-26 (WEB)
16) Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
17) He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18) He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’
19) ‘Honor your father and mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20) The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21) Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22) But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23) Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”
25) When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26) Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I guess this passage keeps coming back to me because it is fundamental to my concept of God. God can do anything; and if that is true, then he can do it in my life. The problem is: I have to let him!!! The rich man couldn't give up his riches and as a result, failed to see the power of God in his life. I wonder, what does it take for us (for me) to trust God enough to unequivocally follow God? Probably not something as wild as a Star Wars hologram, but... who knows?