Everybody would like to go to heaven; whether they believe in God and eternal life, or
not. For, those who believe in God, naturally want to spend eternity with him. While those
who don't believe in him, still wonder what would happen to them if there was a God and
heaven and hell, anyway? In which case, they too would not want to end up in hell either.
However, most people - who believe that there is a God - think that they can earn their
place in heaven by living a morally upright, honorable life and supporting their church,
the poor, the widows, or orphans, etc.
In the Bible we read about a morally upright, law abiding, rich man, who too believed
that he can earn a place in heaven. Therefore, he ran to Jesus and falling on his knees
before him asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life? I would like to quote his
story from Mark 10:17-30 (NIV) where it says:
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.
"Good teacher" he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ...Jesus
answered...
You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not
steal,
do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
"Teacher,"
he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and
loved
him. "One thing you lack" he said. "Go sell everything you have and give to the
poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this the man's
face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around
and
said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
Thedisciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said ... "It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The
disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus... said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible
with God."
Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" "I tell you the
truth,"
Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father
or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in
this present age...with... persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life.
No doubt, the question of eternal life was very much on the mind of this man because he
actually ran to Jesus and - falling on his knees, before him - asked: "What must I do to
inherit eternal life?" Evidently, he too believed that he has to do something to earn it.
However the reply of Jesus surprised him because - first of all - he just reminded him to
keep the law; which didn't cause him any problems as he kept it from his childhood.
Meaning, that he didn't ever murder, commit adultery, steal, testify falsely, etc. He
actually was such a good man that Jesus "looked at him and loved him." Therefore he only
recommended one more thing to him. Namely, to sell all his riches and give the money
to the poor; then follow him, or become his disciple. Why did he recommend to sell
and give away his riches? Was it because it is sinful to be rich, and - as a rich man - he couldn't go to Heaven? Or, because
such a selfless deed would earn him a place in heaven? No, not for these reasons. For,
there are countless, blessed, rich Christians, who serve God with their resources. Thus, it
is not sinful to be rich! Furthermore, selfless deeds don't assure anyone a place in
Heaven either because in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) we read:
"For it is by grace you have
been saved, though faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by
works, so that no one can boast."
Jesus only told him to sell and distribute all his riches
because thereby he was trying to influence him to give up everything he is enslaved to.
Then, follow him with a totally yielded body, mind, and all. In which case he would
not only go to heaven, but receive great treasure, or rewards there also.
And his message speaks to us also. For, if we too want to go to heaven and receive
rewards over there; then besides believing in Jesus as the Son of God, confessing our sin
to him, asking for his forgiveness, and inviting him into our heart; we must also give up
everything we are enslaved to, and - totally yielding ourselves to him - follow him.
Otherwise, our heart will still draw us toward the direction of our "treasure."
Whether that is our money, a secret sin, our comfort, a favorite entertainment, a hobby, a
future plan, or anything else. In other words, possessions are not sinful; but may turn
into sin - together with many other things - if we hold unto them and love them more than
Jesus. Just like the man in our lesson, who was so attached to his assets that - for their
sake - he left Jesus and a chance to receive eternal life; behind.
Then, Jesus turned to his disciples and said: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the
kingdom of God!"
Which lead them to question: "Who then can be saved?"
"With man
this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." - Replied
Jesus.
For, since this event occurred before Christ's death and resurrection, or at a time,
the disciples didn't yet clearly understand that the Father sent his Son to this earth to pay
for the sin of those who will believe in him, and be resurrected for their salvation;
therefore, he made it clear to them that humanly speaking there is no way for men to go
to heaven; yet God can, and will make it possible through the substitutionary death
and resurrection of Jesus.
Next, Peter had another question. He wanted to know what will happen to those of them,
who gave up everything for the sake of following him? They may receive some rewards,
but can count on persecutions too, while on earth; he told them.
Then added: however,
after death they will not only go to heaven, but also receive some eternal rewards; over
there.
What can we learn from all this? That in order to go to heaven and receive rewards
also, we must take the following steps respectively:
Seek the Lord, while he can be found, or our health and time permits. And he will help us
to find him.
Seek the Lord, while he can be found, or our health and time permits. And he will help us
to find him.
Totally yield ourselves to him, giving up everything that we held unto thus far, and
putting Jesus at the center of our life; follow him. For, as long as we are more attached
to anything else than him, our heart will pull us into that direction, and our life will
stay useless. Faithfully serve him during good times or bad, or during persecution or peace; till the end.
Thus, let us ask ourselves the following questions: Did I already seek and find the Lord
Jesus? Do I believe in him as the Son of God? Confessing my sins to him, and asking for
his forgiveness; did I already invite him into my heart? Furthermore - giving up all things
that kept me from following him - did I already yield myself, and everything I have to him?
Then - in case Jesus is in our heart already but we are uncertain about the thoroughness of
our yielding - let us consider: What am I thinking about most of the time? What do I
spend most of my time, strength, and money on? If on Jesus, heavenly things, or the
Word of God; then the things above are most important to us, and our true treasures
are laid up over there already.
Thus, our heart is pulling us in that direction too.
However, if we find that our yielding is incomplete, then let us totally yields ourselves and
everything we have to him now! In which case, he will bless us, empower us, and use us.
Furthermore, will turn our thoughts, actions, and heart into Christ centered ones.
For our
greatest treasure - namely our eternal life - will be hidden in him!