Mark 10:17-22
“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
Mark 10:17-22 NIV
Often, especially in our Western culture, we are in pursuit of the good, and the good life. Sometimes we think that if we work hard enough, or go to church as many times as we can that God will reward us.
In reality, God has set the standard for us and paid the price for our salvation. Our response to that reality is bound up with an intentional pursuit of Christ and an understanding of our identity in Jesus.
This rich young ruler has everything you could want in life but he still felt an emptiness, a hollowness, he knew he was lacking something. Something money couldn’t buy and power couldn’t grab. Do you know what it is? An answer to his own mortality, a cure for death. A way to make sense of the harsh reality that you may possess everything this world can offer but you can’t take any of it with you.
It’s no coincidence that what nagged at this young man’s heart nags at the heart of every human being. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has set eternity in the hearts of men. We all have an inkling that there’s something more, something bigger than us, something beyond our five senses.
Everyone understands, sooner or later, that even the best this world can offer eventually vanishes, like a breath of vapor on a cold day. And that’s what brought this rich, young ruler to his knees before Jesus.
Jesus is not even calling this guy to not seek treasure. He’s saying, I’m giving you treasure like you don’t even know. You don’t even realize how awesome what I am calling you to is.
Eternal life is not gained by what we do, but by what Christ did. Eternal life and entrance into the kingdom of God is gained not by what we do but by what we believe. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The Lord Jesus was testing this man who seemed to be so earnestly seeking the truth. Jesus wanted to discover if the man was willing to confess Christ as the incarnate God, and be saved. Would he confess, You are the Christ the Son of the living God? Did he call Jesus Good Teacher for the correct reason?
The encounter with the Lord Jesus, when this young man ran to ask Him the momentous question which lay so heavily on his heart, did not immediately cause this earnest young man to confess this Good Teacher as his Eternal God.
We do not hear any more about this young man and whether he was one who came to understand that the way, the truth, and the words of eternal life are found in Christ alone. But may we turn our attention onto the One Who is truly good. Our loving Lord Jesus Christ.
And this is the message that should be increasingly on our lips that whosoever believes on Him is not condemned, but whosoever does not believe is condemned already because they have not believed on the only begotten Son of God the one and only Good Son of Man.
The one thing lacking needful and desired. If you are without Jesus Christ as your personal Savior today that is the one thing lacking in your life. Come to Jesus in total obedience and be saved today.
If you are a Christian, but you have neglected your time with the Lord. The one thing needful in your life today is to come and spend some time at His feet listening to His Word.
What is your desire this morning? If you could have one thing today, what would it be? Come this morning and find that Jesus Christ can meet your need today!!!
Father thank You for this day and the important understanding that there are none that are good, not even one, and that it is only through faith in Christ that we have been forgiven of our sins and have received our inheritance of eternal life as a gift of Your grace. Lord let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Lord we lift up those that are seeking to know You and pray that many hearts may be opened to the good news of You. Lord use my friend and I to be a conduit through whom the truth of the gospel of grace may flow to all with whom we come in contact today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
Comments