55:030621
One Thing Lacking
“Lord by thy grace I have made my chance. In thy salvation
I rejoice. I was empty, I’m empty still. Thy full salvation dath
(does) fill me. Transient are all things that move, but thine is
everlasting love”
-Grosart
(PT1 of 2)
(NKJ) Luke 18:18/30 “..Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ ”21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich..”
With God All Things Are Possible 24 “..And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life..”
The above statement is one we all need to tell ourselves often till it is something has become part of understanding of what Jesus can do for us.
In the TV series called ‘HI-di-Hi’. A slogan called out to all the campers every morning, then the campers call it out back. This would happen often throughout the day. This is a fictional TV series that has a laugh at many camps of the time, 1950’s on. The call was to let the campers know they are part of the family for their time there.
We need to say the above often, first thing in the morning and last thing at night before we close our eyes to sleep. In this study I will look at (6) six points …
(PT1 of 2) I) An Important Question … II) A Searching Inquiry III) An Honest Confession …
(PT2 of 2) IV) A Testing Command V) A Sorrowful Result … VI) A Forcible Application
I) An important Question
V18 “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
There is no question more important for any young Christian than this. It is clear to see that ‘Earthly-riches’ will not buy the same standard of life, when join our Lord and Saviour in Heaven. The Egyptians were big believers in bringing their wealth with themselves, sorry guys but your wealth is still here. The question still remains ‘What do you do’? Here’s one of the easiest ways …
John 3:15&16 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
God felt it so important, that He told us this twice over here. So why has this been so missed, in today’s message in Church. It wonderful to see a man, while revealing in his Worldly prosperity, he was so rich and could afford any luxury in life, but all was for nought, he now knows it all stays here for someone else. V23 “But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich..” You can’t but a better 2nd life, he now has realised that Salvation is a matter between Christ Jesus alone and our own souls.
II) A searching inquiry
v19 “So Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me good?”
We all have fallen short of the Glory of God, for as much as we try we will fail, why? Because at the end of the day we are Earthly, and will so behaive accordingly. Try thinking of this picture if you will, you are awake after a wonderfully restful sleep, singing songs of worship whilst having breakfast, before the kids go off to school, and your partner leaves for work. You have never been so happy or revitalised. NO other is going to spoil this day, your soul at peace & happy. You feel a new strength, you have not a swear word in your thoughts, when suddenly whilst driving into work someone cuts you up nearly making you crash. Then B A N G you get hit in the side of the car, as the other driver runs a red light.
After the air bags deflate, you were luck and your only shook up a little, as they hit the passenger side of the car, luckily you had just dropped off the kids at schools. When …
Now, all that serenity you had before leaving home has just evaporated, gone. Our Lord would have us understand that He deals not only with the language of the tongue, but also the deeper motives of the heart, NO matter how good we try to be, we will always fail.
V19 “So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.”
When we come to Jesus about the matter of ‘Eternal-life’, we must come with purpose of heart, (in other words you are fully committed in your words & actions), believing that Jesus is like God divine, and He is the way, the truth, and the life.
III) An Honest Confession
V21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
For sure this ruler was truthfully sincere when he said this as he knew nothing against himself. In today’s society it can be very hard to find someone who can be both humble also honest about themselves. There can be a peace of conscience that is not the ‘Peace-of-God’. All be it that there is for sure a character of justice, as seen in the sight of the law, although not justified in the sight of God, as it is written.
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
In Galatians 3: 10/14, goes onto talk about how christ came to release us from “the curse of the Law”. So there should be within us a sence of freedom, but a good balance of what is now acceptable. V14 gives much clarity for those in doubt .. “that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Due to the demands put upon them because of the law, it was broken time after time, demands that NO one was able to keep. To finish this is must be said that … “though His (death upon the cross) Christ Jesus died for us, this was what we could do for ourselves”.
Galatians 3: 10/14 “10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
All Christians should know accept & believe planted deep within our hearts that .. “without faith it is impossible to please Him”. It is the one simple thing God asks of us …
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” ... There is a misconception that just doing good works/deeds is enough to get into Heaven. Sorry not good enough ! The story of the Pharisees who went up to pray and many good works, but he was destitute of faith, in the stoning sacrifice.
Luke 18:11-14 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
We lay all our burdens at the foot of the cross, as through all Him all things are possible. God bless your words to our hearts may these seeds grow to be like a mighty Oak tree. Part 2 follows next week, so don't miss it.
