“Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)
Eternal life was a big deal in Jesus’ day and it is today. People longed to go to a reward after they died. The rich young ruler thought his reward was in the bag; “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 commit adultery,’ ‘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.’” (v. 18, 19) Before the cross the deal was – follow the law and you’re set for eternal life.
But there was a kicker; “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.” (v. 21,22) Jesus challenged this young ruler on two counts – 1) no one is good enough to go to heaven and 2) if you love something, say your worldly possessions more than following Jesus you won’t get any eternal reward! Eternal life may not really be the biggest deal for people who say they aspire to it. Today, after the cross the deal is – follow Jesus and you’re set for eternal life.
Some will argue that this story requires that you give away all your possessions and riches if you want to follow Jesus. They make a new addition to the law – one that Jesus never made. I think there are deeper lessons for us. For Born Again Christians, our eternal life is sealed. Our sins are forgiven even the sins we commit in the future (Romans 5:8) This isn’t a licence to sin but a freedom from sin’s power over us. So we can’t be ‘guilted’ or condemned by someone else’s opinion for hanging on too tightly to our hard earned money. Jesus’ opinion is the only One that counts and he made it known on the cross for all eternity. That being said, if we esteem something higher in our lives than Jesus – it could be money or riches, or it could be self-righteousness and other peoples’ opinion of us, we won’t have eternal life because we can’t follow Jesus carrying that baggage.
Finally, eternal life isn’t ‘pie in the sky after you die!’ Jesus tells us what eternal life is: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ” (John 17:3) Eternal life isn’t about you or me – it’s about Jesus and our Father in Heaven and how closely we walk with Him today.
Father God, thank you for Jesus and His Word, help us to keep our eyes on Him. Let us not be puffed up about how good we think we are or feel guilty about how bad others judge us to be. Holy Spirit we do hear Your testimony that we are God’s beloved children. Any condemnations are not from You. Praise the Lord! Amen.
Steps Down The Road 