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Luke 18 18-30 FOLLOWING JESUS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE 06 Being a follower of Jesus
📖 Luke 18:18-30
03Oct2020 - *Being a follower of Jesus* - Luke 18:18-30 - FOLLOWING JESUS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE 6 – Bible reading: _Luke 19:8-10_
We have seen thus far as to how the Rich Young Ruler had kept the commandments. He came asking as to what he should do to have eternal life. Jesus asked him to keep the commandments that were related to people.
We understood that loving people is fulfilling the law. He had been sincere in keeping the law and the Lord knew it, yet there was a lack in him. He too knew that he lacked somewhere and that was the reason why he had come to Jesus. The Lord was now giving him the answer to both his questions, 1. What must I do to have eternal life? 2. What do I still lack?
_Mark 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."_
We are now at the very heart of this story. The Lord’s reply to the young man’s questions began by the Lord saying, “One thing you lack…” It was not one thing that the Lord presented to him but Jesus listed several. How do we resolve this seeming contradiction?
As we look at this verse closely, we will see that the *one thing* that the Lord offered the Rich Young Ruler was an invitation to *follow Him*, and have eternal life. It is in knowing Him that we have eternal life. _(John 17:3)_ This was the one thing that the young man lacked. *He lacked in not following Jesus*.
Nevertheless, to follow Jesus meant he would have to do, he would have to take, several decisions and steps, only then he would be able to follow Jesus. To follow Jesus, he would need to have a turnaround in his life and behaviour. He would need to repent.
What were those foundational, turn around, expressions that would need to happen in his life, for him to follow Jesus?
1. He would have to let go of his grip and security on money
2. He would have to love the poor as he loved himself
3. He would have to now consider his life in terms of his eternal destiny and not temporal
4. He would have to take up his cross
5. He would have to come and follow Jesus - be with Jesus. Make Jesus his abode.
If we would look within, we will see that we are sincere in seeking to be in a relationship with Jesus. Yet, our priority, personal and family security is money. We will not like to articulate it but that is the reality. What we are quick to articulate is our faith in God but the fact that we actually trust money is kept hidden. Just as the Rich Young Ruler, we come across as truly sincere, spiritual people but our pursuit is financial or material wellbeing.
_Ezekiel 33:31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain._
This is how we raise up our children as well. We give them the spiritual nurture, we have family prayer, we encourage our children to read the Bible and pray, we would like them to be involved in the spiritual life and activities of the church but ultimately our messaging to them is that they should be ‘well-settled’ in life.
Unless we let go of this pursuit of money, we cannot follow Jesus. Whom do we choose to follow, Jesus or money? What will our decision be?
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you a true follower of Jesus?```