"CHANGE gods"
We return to the question “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Maybe you read ahead when we first came to the question. There are some other truths to examine before we come to the end of this encounter with Jesus. Let’s look at them.
These verses hold the most important question you and I will face in life. Indulge me, allow me to repeat the question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Read the words Jesus spoke to the ruler:
“And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
Luke 18:19-23
The ruler called Jesus “good.” Jesus challenges his use of the word. In doing this Jesus brings us to another truth: No one is good except God alone. Ultimate and infinite goodness are found only in God. When we know this, we understand an additional truth:
Human “good” deeds cannot earn eternal life.
The ruler responded to Jesus’s reminder to keep the Ten Commandments. “I’ve kept them since I was a youth.” He thought his human good deeds would give him eternal life. We can hear the pride in the man’s answer.
But the response of Jesus forces all of the air from the ruler’s balloon of pride. “Sell all you have, distribute the money to the poor…and come, follow me.”
The man’s god was riches. He coveted them more than God.
Don’t get distracted by the riches. After Jesus told the man to sell all his stuff Jesus said something we do not want to miss, it was “come, follow me.”
The answer to the question about inheritance of eternal life is “come follow me.” In a word the answer is Jesus. He is God. He only is ultimately, infinitely good. When Jesus instructed the man to sell all of his possessions He was directing the man and us to CHANGE gods.
Do you and I worship a false god?
We do.
What? A false god is an idol. We have no idols…do we?
Yes…we do.
We worship self. We love ourselves more than God.
Let that sink in. But do not despair-turn from self. Apologize and mean it. Then change gods.
Turn to Jesus. This is why He was born in Bethlehem. It’s why He lived as a man on earth. It’s why He let people crucify Him on a cross. He came to rescue us from self.
Change gods.
Jesus calls to us, “Come, follow me.”
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