Do you have something that’s holding you back from going all in with Jesus? Whatever it may be, it’s not worth hanging onto at the expense of an ABIDING, SOLD–OUT RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. Plunge into the Word of God to see what you can learn from the true story of a guy who made the worst mistake possible – walking away from Jesus. There is a story of one man in the Bible who met Jesus and walked away sad. Many came to Jesus sad, but left happy. But this man sadly walked away from Jesus. He refused to LET GO AND LET GOD HAVE IT ALL.
“As He [Jesus] was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “NO ONE IS GOOD BUT ONE—GOD. You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.” He said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” Then, looking at him, Jesus LOVED HIM and said to him, “YOU LACK ONE THING: Go, sell ALL YOU HAVE and GIVE TO THE POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” “But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.” (Mark 10:17-22) The problem this man had was that his possessions POSSESSED HIM.
It’s scary if we don’t trust Christ. Our good deeds CANNOT get us into heaven? It’s not going to happen. The Bible says that we die once, and after that they face judgment. If we think that the “good” side of our scale is heavy enough to balance out the bad in that judgment, the Bible’s news to us is that even our good works are LIKE FILTHY RAGS (literally, a used menstrual garment). ONLY GOD’S GRACE CAN SAVE US.
“For BY GRACE you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES (not of our good works); it is THE GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
-Bill Stockham