The Eye of the Needle

The Eye of the Needle (by Charlotte Baker)

The biggest obstacle we face when it comes to allowing Jesus to live His life in us, through us, for us, and as us is our talents and gifts. We rely on our abilities as our source rather than Him. This story is a great awakener to our need to depend totally upon Him.

One day when I was young, I stood among the sons of men… strong and tall. My heart was filled with enthusiasm and my life was given to the purposes of my God. That day I said unto the Lord, I will do mighty exploits in the Name of my God.

And the Lord came unto me and He said, “Son of Man, what is it that you would have Me to do for you?” “Lord, if only I could be one of those who play sweetly upon an instrument and sing well in the house of the Lord, then I would do great things for my Lord.”

And the Lord came unto me and gave me the desire of my heart. And He stood me among the sons of men and He let me play and sing. And I saw the day when the hearts of men were moved by that thing that the Lord had given unto me. And as the hearts of men were moved, I stood back and I said within myself now will I be content for I have been able to move the hearts of men, but in my secret hour I bowed my head before my God and I said, “Lord, Thou hast given me what I asked for, but today my heart is heavy and I have a longing for something more.”

And He came again unto me in the night, and He said, “Son of Man, ask Me again what you would like Me to do for you?”

And I said, “Lord, I see men bowed by burdens low. I see hearts that are broken. I see sadness and discouragement. O, give me but the power of the spoken word that I might speak a word and hearts would be delivered.”

And the Word of the Lord came unto me, and He said, “Son of Man, I have given you the thing you have desired.”

And with great joy I marched before the people of God. And in my youth and my enthusiasm, I spoke the Word and men were delivered. And I spoke the Word and their hearts were made whole. And I knew what it was to bind the broken-hearted… to pour in the oil of joy for mourning.

And while men were praising Him and magnifying His Name, I went back to my secret chamber and I bowed my head in sorrow, and I said, “O, my God, my God, I am not satisfied. I am still not satisfied.”

And He came again unto me, and He said, “Son of Man, what is it that you still desire?”

And I said, “O, my God, give me the power in my hands that I may lay my hands upon the sick as You did, and I might see healing flow… that I might have power.”

And He said, “It is done as you requested. Go now and heal the sick in My Name.”

And I went to the nations of the earth, and I saw the sick raised from their sick beds. And I saw pain and suffering go. And I was rejoicing as I went to my place, and I bowed my head before my God and I said, “Now shall I be satisfied for You, O Lord, have given me what I have desired.”

And no longer had the words come out of my mouth until my heart began to ache within me and I began to cry. I do not understand this for again my heart is sad. I said, “Lord, wilt You just one more time give me what I want.”

And He said, “It is done.”                 

And I said, “God, I desire to go against principalities and powers and the powers of the wickedness in this world and spiritual darkness in high places.”

And He said, “Surely, I’ll give it to you… now go!”

And I went and the Lord allowed me to go into dens of iniquity where men hide from the light because of the sin and the evil that is upon them. And there was a day when I saw demons cry out at the very presence of the power of God. 

And then I went back to my place broken and I said, “God, You have given me all that I desire and still my heart is not satisfied.

And in my youth, I had expended myself with all the things that my heart had desired.

And then one more time, a gracious and loving God visited me in the night, and He said, “Now, what is it that you desire?”

And in brokenness of heart, I bowed before Him, and I said, “God, only what You want to give me?”

And He came unto me, and He said, “Come with Me, and I will take you on a journey.”

And He took me past my friends… and He took me past those with whom I had come into the house of the Lord… and He took me into a desolate place… and He caused me to go into a place alone in the wilderness.

And I said, “O, my God, now You have cut me off from those that I love. What are You doing to me?”

And He said, “I’m taking you to the place where everyone must come to if their heart’s desire is to be fulfilled.”

And on a certain hour, I bowed before a gate that is called the Eye of the Needle. And there before the Eye of the Needle I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Bow low.”

And I bowed low, and He said, “No, lower.”

I bowed lower, and He said, “No, yet lower. You are not yet low enough.”

And I went as low as I could go. But I had upon my back my books of learning, and I had with me my instruments of music, and I had with me my gifts and abilities.

And He said unto me, “You still have too much. You cannot pass thru this gate.”

And I said, “God, You have given me these books. And You have given me these abilities.”

And He said, “Drop them, or you cannot go through.”

And I dropped them. And I went through a very small gate that is called the Eye of the Needle. And as I went through this gate, I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Now rise to the other side.”

And as I rose, a very strange thing had happened to me. Lo, the gate which was so small that I had to lay aside everything in order to pass through was so wide I could not fill it.  And as I stood in the presence of the Lord, I said, “God, what have You done to me for my soul is now satisfied?”

And He said, “You have passed through the gate of worship. Now come up to the circle of the earth, and I will show you a great mystery. And I will reveal to you what I am doing among the people of the earth.”

And the Spirit of the Lord caught me away and He took me to the circle of the earth… higher than the eagle flies… beyond where the clouds can rumble… beyond where the sun shines, or the moon shines. And there at the throne of my God, He said, “Look down upon My people.”

And I saw a strange thing. I saw my companions gathered around a very small gate.  And I saw them wringing their hands and crying and saying one to another, “God, You have given me these instruments and gifts. You have called me to defeat the enemy of our souls and to help people live for you. I cannot go through this gate and leave all You have given me behind. How will I serve You without all these things? I cannot and I will not do it!”

And I heard another one say, “Me? Lay down my instruments of music? Lay down all that God has given to me to go through that silly little gate to be nothing but a bare man who comes out on the other side stripped of everything? I cannot do this thing!”

And then I saw as they stood aside in their pride… afraid to bow themselves before a very small gate. And then I saw again as the Lord brought me closer to the gate some people bowed very low… laying down everything they had. And as they came through the very wide gate on the other side, their instruments of music were there… their gifts were there… their books were there… their power was there.

And the Word of the Lord came unto me, “Go now and tell this people this thing. I have given to My people extreme talent and much ability. I have caused you who are instrumentalists to play, but I say to you this day if you do not come through the very small gate which is the gate of worship and bow low and lay before Me your instruments, your talents, your abilities, your vision, your dreams and your power… you shall always be those who can only minister to the hearts of people and bless the hearts of people. But there is a gate open in the church at this hour which is a very small gate and through that gate only men and women who are true worshipers will go and these will fall on their faces before Me. And these will lay their talents before their God. And these will say, ‘Our God, we will be Your worshipers’ and through that wide gate they will come. And as they come through that wide gate, they will arise on the other side, not to bless people but to bless their God. And I have brought this people together this day to present you with a choice. You can share your gifts with people, and I will cause you to sway their hearts with your talent. Or you can go through a very small gate of consecration and true worship, and become an instrument of blessing and honor to Your King.”

Blessings,

Kenny