Almost (Rich Young Ruler)

There is hardly a larger watershed moment in the Bible than the story of the “Rich Young Ruler!” By the world’s standards, he had it all, yet he knew something was missing in his life. When encountering Jesus, he looked for some answers to his greatest spiritual questions. Like much of culture today, people have questions. They are looking for hope, but are they willing to do what it takes to experience hope? What this young man needed to realize was that what this world offered him paled in comparison to what the Gospel brings. At first glance, that seems like an impossibility, but it’s all dependent on the lens that a person is looking through. The Gospel demands commitment – the kind that is difficult yet rewarding, tiring yet exhilarating, dangerous yet glorious! This “rich young leader” thought that he had achieved most of what he needed to earn eternal life. How could he not think this? He had achieved wealth, power, and prestige; no doubt, eternal life could also be “achieved” albeit in some other way that he wasn’t clear of when he asked the Lord. Jesus made it crystal clear that his mentality was flawed. Jesus did something brilliant. He exposed this young guy by proving to him that despite his claims to have kept the “Mosaic Law from his childhood,” he indeed had not…exposing him to be in need of salvation. What happened next is sad in so many ways. Jesus challenged him that if he was truly serious about being his disciple to sell his wealth and come and follow him. THIS was the watershed moment. Every person faces this moment – will I accept or reject Jesus?! Many people “come close” but never actually become disciples because when they compare what they would “lose” to what they will gain, the loss seems too large to experience. That day, heaven wept. That day, the “rich young ruler” chose his riches over redemption. What would you do? What will your friends and family do? There was a price that was paid for salvation by Jesus on The Cross! Now, there is a price that you and I must pay – discipleship! Don’t kid yourself, if you want Jesus without his truth, you don’t really want Jesus! He demands that we trust him and turn from our sins to be saved!