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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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?!?”