August
19, 2003
INHERIT
ETERNAL LIFE
"Good
Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
(Mark 10:17, NKJV).
"Now
as He [Jesus] was going out on the road, one came running,
knelt before Him, and asked Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall
I do that I may inherit eternal life?'
"So
Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call
Me good? No one is good but One, that is God. You know the
commandments: "Do not murder," "Do not steal,"
"Do not bear false witness," "Do not defraud,"
"Honor your father and your mother." '
"And
he answered and said to Him, 'Teacher, all these things I
have kept from my youth.'
"Then
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him. 'One
thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come,
take up the cross, and follow Me.'
"But
he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions" (Mark 10:17-22).
This
is a fascinating passage. In reply to the young mans question,
Jesus
told him that obedience to the commandments of God was necessary
if he would obtain eternal life; and He quoted several of
the commandments that show man's duty and relationship to
man. When the young man said that he had kept these from his
youth, what did he still lack, Jesus responded that there
was one thing he lacked, and then said to go, sell all he
had, give to the poor, and come follow Him. Basically, Jesus
was referring to the first four commandments, those that relate
to our relationship with God.
When
a lawyer had questioned Jesus, "Teacher, which is the
great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, 'You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all
your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first
and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You
shall love your neighbor as yourself' On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40).
"One
thing you lack," said Jesus, but that was a vital
principle. He needed the love of God in his soul. The young
man had the privilege of becoming a son of God, and a coheir
with Christ to the heavenly treasure. But he must take up
the cross, and follow the Saviour in the path of obedience
to the principles and values of God's kingdom. "What
will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).
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