Last week we contrasted the common view of love with the way Jesus loved the wealthy man. In Mark 10:23-27 our preconceptions that we must earn eternal life are also challenged. Jesus uses this man as an object lesson in how hard it is to get into heaven. Even His disciples were amazed at this; "Who then can be saved?" (Mark 10:26).
The key to Jesus' teaching is found in Mark 10:27; "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
If God is with you, He'll work through you - as in the challenges of life - to make you strong. The principle extends to all of life: through struggle - through challenges - we all become stronger. But without God, we do so in vain. Would you prefer to struggle and achieve all your life only to die? What if there was an eternal purpose to your life?
There is.
Endure the struggles and challenges of life - do so in obedience to God because you love Him, because He loves you. You won't "earn" your way into eternal life. It will be given to you freely because you believed enough to meet each struggle and challenge He put in front of you.