The Path To Eternal Life

This morning I am reading from Mark 10:17-22 NIV:

[17] 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?”

[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ”

[20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

[21] 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.”

[22] At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

I love this story because it clearly lays out what is important, and the path forward. Many people have taken this story to mean that the only way forward for us towards eternal life is to sell everything we have, and in that they really miss the main point. It's not something we can do, but who we are in relationship with that determines our eternal status.

If we look closely at the man's question to Jesus, he wanted to know what he needed to do. He thought he could earn his way into heaven, or eternal life, by works of some sort, even if they were good works.

Jesus' reply was to come and follow Him, and it was out of His love for Him that He gave the man this invitation. This was an invitation to relationship with his savior. Unfortunately, the man's riches and responsibilities would have made a life of following Jesus impossible for this man, so Jesus gave him direction on what to do. I was reading David Guzick's commentary and he made a good point. He said that the man had made his wealth an idol, and Jesus was inviting him to break away from that which bound him, for idolatry of any sort will bind us, and control us to some degree.

Relationship with Jesus was the one thing the wealthy man lacked, and it is the only path to eternal life of joy in heaven. Being good won't be enough, following the law won't be enough, it is only in relationship with Jesus that we find eternal life.

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:15-16 NIV: “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles [16] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."

John wrote in 1 John 5:11-12 NIV: "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-4, 8-9 NIV: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Jesus himself said in John 17:3 NIV: "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

So, let us examine our life's and see if there is anything that keeps us from relationship with Jesus. Jesus does not condemn us if there is, but rather looks on us with love and invites us to put whatever it is aside and enter into relationship with Him. He loves us, and wants us to be in relationship with Him. He is the path to eternal life!