Who Can Be Saved?
Good Morning Friends,
Today we look at the lectionary for the day and a teaching moment of Jesus and the rich young ruler. The insight that Jesus shows is amazing and all focused on the issue of belief…What is believed and what is not. Jesus puts it to the test and is tough on this man. That is when the rich young ruler asks: Who Can Be Saved?
Scripture: A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.'” He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:18-30 (NRSV)
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
Mark 8:29 (NIV)
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:68-69 (NIV)
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Titus 1:16 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus tells the rich young ruler that the way to heaven…the way of discipleship for the wealthy… is like leading a camel through a tight passage. It is hard work…nearly impossible. But the rich young ruler refused to adjust. He was stubborn like a camel with the mind that wealth would help him on the spiritual journey. Unfortunately he was unaware of his spiritual condition. He thought he was good enough and failed to realize that he had made money his god. He chose to remain “good enough” in his own sight, rather than do what it took to become perfect, or spiritually mature. Wealth was more important to him than his very soul. And his sorrow in the end reflects that he knew what he was giving up. He just never counted on the Romans destroying Jerusalem which would in the end take all his wealth anyway. If you look at the very nature of his questions it is clear he had chosen to think of Jesus as just another rabbi. He was unable to change. And on the bumpy ride of life we have to make adjustments… adjustments that prepare us for obedience. Friends, our circumstances sometimes require us to adjust. Sometimes our relationships require us to adjust. Our thinking, commitments and actions all lead to adjustments. We must adjust when we count the cost. We must adjust when we cut connections. We must adjust if we want to cleave to Christ and claim the cross. Here we discover that when trouble comes, God’s love will strengthen our faith and turn trials into blessings. God has a positive answer for every negative problem. If we are willing to choose to change He will help us to complete what He has in mind for us to do. Jesus has a way for us to be saved. But we have to believe enough to make God a priority. This young man had outer piety without true, inner devotion. He kept the letter of the Law, but the Law had not reached his heart. With some outwardly moral people, the motive of their virtue is to earn the respect of society—-a pragmatic, self-aggrandizing incentive rather than a true spiritual motivation.The test of loyalty to Christ is different for different people. Still the story should trouble us as it troubled the disciples. Friends, if we were on the road with Jesus perhaps He would have given us different counsel, a different test. But there is a test.This devout, religious man was shocked to learn that he was in actuality an idolater. The test of loyalty requires love, faith, repentance but also the full surrender to God’s grace.
Pray we meet the test. Pray that we turn our job, home, finances, family, friends, business associates… our prejudices, and thoughts… our family, work and church…our feelings and doings over the God. Pray we have the courage to invest in the Kingdom of God….to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.
Pray we realize that eternal life is not just about what we do but recognizing what Jesus Christ has already done. Pray that we each in our own way reward faithful followers. Pray that whatever we lose to follow him, He will multiply and give back in this life and the age to come. Pray that on the journey we learn to follow Christ. Pray we have an authentic faith. Pray we believe. Pray we realize that Jesus can tell the difference because he looks to the heart.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 