Matthew 19:20
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
The rich young ruler had no trouble approaching Christ to ask about eternal life. He was not hesitant to say that he had kept the laws of God (and went so far to ask the Lord to be specific) but he still knew he lacked something. He knew he did not possess eternal life.
I believe there is in every unsaved man this same sense of lack. Though they may not speak of it; thought they may deny it and cover it up, still this sense of failure before God exists. They may have added to their lives things intended to ease the conscience over this lack, but still, the lack is there. When the young man admitted his need, Jesus drew deeper and instructed him to give away his wealth and follow Christ.
It seems to me this is the process of coming to faith. We have to get past morality. We have to go deeper than good works. The Lord will bring us to that one thing we cling to that is not God. When we let go of that and follow Christ, we are where eternal life dwells. It must be Christ alone.
Not that every believer must forsake all in order to be saved but every believer must let go of it all to be saved. Christ alone. That is our hope.
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
The rich young ruler had no trouble approaching Christ to ask about eternal life. He was not hesitant to say that he had kept the laws of God (and went so far to ask the Lord to be specific) but he still knew he lacked something. He knew he did not possess eternal life.
I believe there is in every unsaved man this same sense of lack. Though they may not speak of it; thought they may deny it and cover it up, still this sense of failure before God exists. They may have added to their lives things intended to ease the conscience over this lack, but still, the lack is there. When the young man admitted his need, Jesus drew deeper and instructed him to give away his wealth and follow Christ.
It seems to me this is the process of coming to faith. We have to get past morality. We have to go deeper than good works. The Lord will bring us to that one thing we cling to that is not God. When we let go of that and follow Christ, we are where eternal life dwells. It must be Christ alone.
Not that every believer must forsake all in order to be saved but every believer must let go of it all to be saved. Christ alone. That is our hope.
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