Eternal Life

11-20-99

Matthew 19:16-25

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

It was commonly believed, in that day, that righteousness was fulfilled in the outward expression of one's religion. It was taught that riches revealed the blessing of God. The young man in these passages came to Jesus asking that most --- important question: What shall I do that I might have eternal life. 

Jesus' answer? Keep the commandments. "Which?" the young man asks. Jesus refers him to the Decalogue. The young man claims to have kept all these since he was a child, but Jesus comes to the question, and answers it: You must crucify your covetous and selfish heart. Sell everything you have, and give to the poor, and come and follow me. 

Jesus revealed to him his lack, but the young man wasn't willing to surrender all- that he might walk with Jesus. Had the rich young man indeed kept the commandments from his youth up? 

Jesus reveals to him and to us that the scope of His law is far deeper than the young man had estimated, and thus reveals to the young man the condition of his heart. His treasure was upon Earth, not in heaven. He went away, sad - and lost. 

This story reveals more about the danger of a heart that is set upon the things of this present world than it does about the evil of riches. It is no sin to be wealthy. Job was restored to wealth at the end of his trials. Jacob grew in wealth as the LORD prospered him. But rather what is sinful is the disposition to follow after the worldly things instead of the heavenly. To allow a job, family relationships, or property or any thing or consideration to prevent us from following Christ, or from obeying His commands is to choose the things of this world, and to court disaster and eternal loss. 

Think of Lot's wife. She left the city physically with Lot, but her heart was still within, and she looked back to where her affections were anchored, and was turned into a pillar of salt. "Remember Lot's wife." 

Listen to these admonitions from the Scriptures: 

Romans 6:6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

We must be dead to the world, and the world to us. But what does that mean in 20th (or 2lst) century America? It means we're going to seem strange to those who don't know what we believe or why. It means that certain things presently in our lives are going to wither 01.1 the vine, die, and fall off. It means that those things which are not of Christ will have no place in our homes, no place in our activity schedules, no place in our minds or imaginations, or in our conversations, or entertainments. We are going to seem backward and strange to a world which knows not God. 

Speaking of Jesus, Titus wrote: 

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

We are not called to show forth the glory of our worldly achievements, or church institutions. I recall a king of Judah who, instead of revealing the wisdom and power of God to the Babylonian king, instead showed him the treasure-house. May we have wisdom to avoid a similar fate. To every man, woman and child, according to our understanding ,and to whatever light we have received, we are called to show this dying world the wisdom, power and loving care of the one and only true God. When we seek His counsel and obey it by faith, in simplicity we reveal to the world His righteousness, love and wisdom. 

Anyone who has sat out at night to look upon the heavens knows that an evening with no moon is best for viewing the stars. The lesser light closer at hand obscures the greater lights farther off. So it is with this present world. Those temporary things which seem important to us now, because they are right in front of us, can obscure those things of eternal importance. For the rich young man, those things which he had were more important to him than a promise which seemed afar off. He went away sorrowful. We cannot change the affections of our hearts, any more than a leopard may change his spots. But we have exceeding great and precious promises in God's word by which we may overcome these things. To this people have been given the last message of love and warning to this world. It requires that we let go those things which would prevent . . us from passing through the strait gate, and into God's kingdom. We cannot, by our- selves effect the changes which would make this possible. But we need to ask God to make these changes in us. God cannot lower the bar for us, but He can give us wings to clear it. Who, then can be saved? Who can attain to the heights of holiness and perfect character necessary if we would see eternal life? Every soul that hungers and thirsts after righteousness shall be filled. With man, Jesus said, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible", and Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. We need to have the courage to ask God to move our affections and aspirations from this world to heaven, and ask for that living faith which makes all things possible through Jesus Christ. -

Last Updated: July 20, 2002