Mark 12:34
And when Jesus saw that he
answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of
God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
The rich young ruler left sorrowful and with Jesus
saying it was impossible for the rich to be saved. This Pharisee hears words
far more promising; he is "not far from the kingdom of God."
I would remind the careful student of the Bible,
however, that in the case of the rich young ruler Jesus said that, though this
was impossible, all things are possible with God. I would also point out that
in the matter of eternal things "not far" is not nearly close enough.
It might just as well have been a million miles.
The lesson is that eternal life is about God doing
the impossible and not about men doing the admirable. Sincerely religious
people may be kind and tender hearted toward spiritual things but they are
still wrong. The one who is so honest at his religion that he appears in every
way to be a Christian, if he is without Christ is still lost.
There is no indication that this discreet Pharisee
pursued further a relationship with Jesus. They just stopped asking Him
questions.
Do not be fooled by religion's nearness to the
truth. Salvation is always the result of God doing
·
The gracious
·
The merciful
·
The impossible
thing.
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