February 7, 2010

Key Passage: Mark 10:17-31 

“When Good Isn’t Good Enough” 

Isn’t it amazing to think that, in Jesus’ day, there were people who met him, who wanted eternal life, who were even “loved” by Jesus, and still walked away?!?  Sadly, the same could be said today of people in thousands of churches across our country… including ours.  In our story today, Jesus tells the rich young ruler “you lack one thing.”  One thing… Here’s a guy who has stood face-to-face with Almighty God, seen the glory of God’s love flash before his very eyes, and yet he went away sad because, as rich as he was, he couldn’t afford the “one thing” because “he had great possessions.”  Think about that for a second…because he was rich, because he had great possessions, he couldn’t afford the “one thing” Jesus asked of him – and he went away sad.  Let me ask you, if you were given a million dollars today, would you “walk away sad?!?”  This guy walked away sad because it hit him like a ton of bricks that he couldn’t serve two masters… and neither can we.  Listen, today Jesus is telling each and every one of us “you lack one thing,” and just like this guy, we have a choice to make. One thing…what’s yours?   

1.  A Common Delusion   Mark 10:17-20 

• He thought salvation could be obtained by something HE could do.  This is the delusion of

      all lost men – that salvation comes as a result of something they can do.

• He thought the law of God only had to do with outward behavior.  In essence, Jesus was

      telling Him, if you can keep the law PERFECTLY, you can be saved…oh wait – perfectly!

• He thought he had actually obeyed God’s law and thus was worthy of God’s acceptance in

      and of himself.  By the way, this is the same as someone today saying, “I’m a good person.” 

2.  A Compassion Demonstrated  Mark 10:21 

• This rich young ruler was rich, young, and a ruler (duh!).  He was also thoughtful, humble,

      courageous, obedient (after all, he HAD kept the law), and truthful.  Consider this – there’s

      never a mention in Scripture of Jesus telling a liar he loved them.

• Yet Jesus “looked at him”…he looked right through him, seeing everything about him – his

      present condition (had all the world offered), his heart…

• …”and loved him.” Jesus met him right where he was, and he meets us right where we are!

 

3.  A Corruption Discovered   Mark 10:21-22 

• Jesus met this guy at the point of his rebellion.  He always does.  Sooner or later, he’ll meet

      you at your point of rebellion and demand surrender – of the “one thing”

• David desired “one thing” – that he might dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
• Mary chose the “one thing” needful – to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear his words.
• Paul said, “One thing I do…” (Phil. 3:13-14)

 

4.  A Calming Doctrine   Mark 10:23-31 

• The most deceitful, dangerous thing in this world is riches, the love of money, the love of the

      world and all it “has to offer.”

• With men, salvation is utterly impossible.
• With God, all things are possible.  Park on that one for a moment…”with God, all things are

      possible.”  If indeed, salvation is by grace alone (and it is!!!), there is no situation beyond

     God’s reach…there’s no PERSON beyond God’s reach!  That person you’ve been praying for

      for what seems forever?  “With God, all things are possible!”

• As you go about this week, think long and hard about the fact that Christ loves you, sees right

     through you, and that all things are possible with Him…however, what’s your “one thing?!?”