The Two Rich Young Rulers - Part 2

This podcast is made available by visiting Christian media close to the generosity of our support is your donation today means great podcasts like this remain available to help people look to God daily. Please make donations is on today send out all day, clinging to Jesus means letting go of everything some. I see the sacrifices to significant that I am Turning Point of the damage or my concern is this encounter with Jesus, which vividly illustrates how worthy is the receipt trust is the conclusion of this message to rich young ruler's friends, we are studying the book of Mark in the last words of Mark in the last chapters and today were going to finish up what we talked about on Friday. As we talk about the true rich young ruler's the rich young ruler from the earth, and the rich young ruler in heaven encounter between the two Mark chapter 10 verses 17 to 25 is our passage right now. Let's get back to our story to which these two men meeting that they represent the two ways open to all men today. The rich young ruler had made this earth, and his possessions. The reason for living the rich young heavenly ruler had left all of his riches behind in order to come to this earth and do the will of his father, his whole life was about the future young human ruler had only his past and his present he had nothing going in the future at all.

Two men standing face-to-face representing the Broadway in the narrow way the way of life in the way of death. The way it works in the way of grace the way of man in the way of God in the beginning of the story.

This man was searching out Jesus for answers to his emptiness. Now Jesus is going to search out the heart of this young man for the truth about his life watched Jesus work as he talks with this young ruler first of all, he begins to search him for truth about Christ. In verse 18 Jesus said to him, why do you call me good, there's no one good but one, and that is God.

Even though he did not acknowledge that Jesus was God in the flesh. He had come to the right person. Jesus then begins the search amount with regard to the commandments in Matthew's Gospel. We are told that when Jesus said that this young man. You know the commandments. The young man asked Jesus what commandments are you talking about Jesus quoted the commandments which were the basis of the decent respectable life commit adultery. Don't murder. Don't steal.

Don't defraud without hesitation. This man said he kept them all now know one thing, with one exception. They were all negative commandments and effective manner saying I never in my life did harm to anyone, but of course the real question Jesus wants to get out is not what bad have you avoided but what good have you done in the question of this man was even more pointed for was with all your possessions on your well with all that you could give away what positive good. Have you done for anybody. How much of you going out of your way to help and comfort and strengthen others as you might have done respectability on the whole consistent not doing things Christianity in the whole consists of doing things, doesn't it.

We do as followers of Christ that was precisely where this man was, and so many of us where we are. We look at being acceptable to God on the basis of all the bad things we don't do it.

We never stop to think that maybe there's something more to it than that Jesus wasn't examining this man's works, so that he could determine whether he was fit for heaven. He was examining this man's works to help him understand that he was fit for heaven because in his own mind.

He probably thought that he had done enough with maybe one little exception any thought Jesus could fix that when you said it kept all the commandments from his youth and not Jesus didn't correct him on the surface you see he was a very good man. His statement that he had kept the commandment since his youth would've meant that since the age of 13.

He had practiced Judaism rigorously. He had superficial goodness and external respectability. He was a lot like the apostle Paul on the Damascus Road who recorded for us all of his pedigree that he had before he met Jesus so the Lord Jesus is asking him these questions to help him begin the scene where he really stands in his relationship with God morning you see was his God. That's pretty evident. So we already know he blew up the first commandment you shall have no other God before me, the first commandments. He'd already messed those up. Thankfully Christ did ask about the first four commandments. He just settled on the last six because the most evident commandment that he was not keeping was he had gone before God and that God was his money. He trusted his worship that he got his fulfillment from his morality and his good manners are just a front for a covetous heart. That's the reason Jesus asking about the commandments because one of the purposes of the commandments is to show us our sin.

Romans says by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified for by the law is the knowledge of sin. If we didn't know that God said this is right and this is wrong, we wouldn't know what's right and wrong, but this man is being confronted with the fact that, though he claims to have been a good person down underneath the exterior of his life was this broken heart that did not have any relationship with God at all. He was good at posturing, but he did not have reality. The Bible tells us that the law is a mirror that shows us who we are.

Law can bring the sinner to Christ. But of course the law can't make a sinner like Christ. When the law brings you to Christ and shows you how desperate you are, then you're standing in the need of grace. Only grace can take you the rest of the way this man was right at the precipice of understanding this, I believe Jesus had carefully crafted these questions and brought him to this place. He was beginning to understand that his outward goodness was not sufficient and maybe that was a part of the question he was asking. Maybe that was why he didn't have this inner peace that he wanted, and finally Jesus begins the search for truth about the condition of his heart, Jesus were told looked at him and loved him and said to him, one thing you lack go your way. So whatever you have given to the poor you will have treasure in heaven.

Come, take up the cross and follow me, and he was sad at this word and went away sorrowful, for he had great possession now me to stop this particular passage is frustrated a lot of Christian people because it looks like on the surface that Jesus is telling the sky he can buy his way to heaven. What looks like what you walk through this with me and understand where Jesus is taking this man. First of all, notice compassion.

Jesus looked at him and he loved him. Sometimes we think when Jesus is confronting us he's mad at us but usually it's because is loving us like we love our children when we confront them with things they're doing better wrong. Mark is the only gospel that speaks of Jesus compassion for this man and he describes Jesus looking right into his soul and loving him. Why was Jesus heart suddenly so filled with love for this very rich and pretentious man, one writer has explained it. Jesus, who at this point is about 31 years old looks at this man and identifies with him Jesus to is a rich young man far richer than this man can imagine.

But Jesus has lived in the incomprehensible glory, wealth, love and joy of the Trinity from all eternity. He has already left that wealth behind him.

Paul says that Jesus Christ was rich, and for our sakes he became poor.

Here's Jesus looking at this man. He's already made the transition and he realizes that what he's asking of this man is of similar nature. And I believe in his humanity. Jesus look this young man and he realized the torture he had in his heart because he was so committed to his wealth and he wondered where that was going to happen in the humanity of course he was the son of God, so obviously knew where this was all going. Now notice Jesus critique of him. Jesus said to him, one thing you lack. I think that must've been the only moment of hope in the whole conversation they don't really probably okay finally get someone to find out what it is I need in my inventory that I don't have is going to tell me what it is about putting in my inventory and I literally find one thing you lack, by the way, the word lack is the same word that is used in Romans 323 for all have sinned and come short or lack the glory of God.

Then Jesus gives him a command and here's where we wonder what this is all about. He said, go your way. So whatever you have, give to the poor you will have treasure in heaven. Come, take up the cross and follow me, and gives implied commands, you probably notice that go your way. So what you have, give to the poor, take up your cross, follow me remember the rich young ruler has asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.

So in keeping with this question. Jesus gives them a to do list and many followers of Christ to read this passage are greatly troubled by Jesus words, is Jesus teaching salvation is obtained by distributing one's wealth.

We know better.

Jesus is been trying to help this man see that even though he has kept the commandments, he does not understand the young man has succeeded in living a life focused on what not to do. He has not committed adultery is not murder is not been a liar. He's been very good at avoiding sin but now Jesus is challenging his friend to give all of his considerable wealth and success away to help the poor. Jesus is not coaxing this man into poverty for poverty sake. The goal is not to become poor.

But to be with Jesus and Jesus is saying to this man listen carefully you have put your faith and your trust in your wealth and accomplishment, but your efforts are leading you to doubt and insecurity about the most important question in your life. I want you to imagine Jesus says all of it gone no inheritance, no inventory, no servants, no mansions all about God and all you have is me. Can you live with that.

Our Lord's directions here in Mark chapter 10 we can apply those to everyone who wants to become a disciple Jesus is using these questions, particularly because those are the questions are going to penetrate this man's sinful heart.

This man was trusting in his riches, trusting in his wealth, trusting in his prominence for his standing before God and Jesus is trying to help them understand that will never get him to where he wants to go. He says if you put that all away if you send that all away if you help others with what you have instead awarding it for yourself and all you have left is me we be satisfied with that because men and women.

In reality, that's what salvation is it saying that nothing else we have sufficient to have a relationship with God.

I found a little statement in some things I've been sharing with people and goes like this before you can say, thy kingdom come, you have to say my kingdom go is a natural this man wanted to say thy kingdom come, God was saying if you want my kingdom your lectures go you got a quick trusting in your riches you got it.

Trusting your possessions because there aren't enough riches or possessions, or position to get you to heaven. This man's problem is not his possessions. It was his priorities he had elevated his accomplishments in life to the place where that's like he worshiped this man had the wrong God. That was his problem and bees penetrating questions by Jesus would help him understand that had the wrong God. He was a man of great wealth. So Jesus said okay so everything you have and give it to the poor.

He was a ruler.

So Jesus said, take up your cross and follow me. Jesus just undercut those things he had trusted and he is saying if you want to follow me. You have to get rid of the God you already have. You can't have me in your other God. The Bible says you can't trust in Mammon and in God. At the same time, it doesn't say you can't have money and you can have Mama, but you can't trust in you can't make that the goal of your faith because if you do, you will fall short. You will never accumulate enough to arrive at the place you really want to be and that's where this man was accumulated all but down in his heart he knew it wasn't enough and he had this ache in his heart to be fulfilled, and he couldn't figure out what he had to do.

Jesus is helping him with this love this man so here is confronted with two choices is at a fork in the road I can keep going where I'm going and continue to have the emptiness I have or I can listen to this man from heaven, but the Bible says in verse 22. He was sad at this word and he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

What is this me the word for sad is the same word that is translated by the word greed. He wasn't just having a momentary sadness. The Bible says he grieved the storm clouds gathered. The storm was coming this man walked away with a heavy heart, he walked away.

I'm sure with his head down and his shoulders bent. He grieved, he went away, crushed. He went away depressed because money was the center of his life. If you give away his money he would've given away the most important thing in his life he had to give away his God. If you want Jesus to be your savior. You have to give away all your other saviors can only have one Jesus will not share the throne of your life with anything or anyone. He's either your savior or he is nothing to you because this man was married to his possessions.

He went away from Jesus, he went away sorrowful, he went away. You want to be going away from Jesus you want to be going toward Jesus and there's no other record of him found in all the Bible you can search through the Gospels, is never mentioned again so we don't know if he ever came back and got it right, but the probability he didn't Bible says of him that he tried to save his life in the here and now. Any loss the future. They say pastor that's really an interesting story, but I don't consider myself wealthy and on the prominent so I'm glad I heard this, but what does it mean to me to start something everybody trusts in something. One of things we used to do when we would ask people about their faith. A relationship you can ask person you could walk up to somebody and say you're a Christian, and about 90% of the people America going to say yes because you have no idea what it means. But ask them this question if you were to stand before God tonight and he would ask you, why should I let you into my heaven, what would you say have asked that question hundreds of times and most of the time, especially from men. I've gotten this answer somewhat similar to this man. I'm a good husband, good father, I think I'm pretty good in the community, part of the PTA, I try to do good things for people. I've never harmed anybody.

So then I would say so you believe that if you're going to go to heaven your way in is on the basis of the life that you've lived and how good that is that correct and then make it a little tentative but yeah what you think you send while I've made mistakes. That's a little nicer than sin. What are you thinking send a lot not really what you say three times a day. Hold you when you want to do the math on that. I mean three times a day times three and 65 tons over many years.

You can be alive and you stand before God and seek heaven so much, but usually got just the problem.

Whatever we trust in has to be able to produce and this man was face-to-face with the fact that everything he had all that he had accomplished.

It was an enormous amount, but it wasn't enough. He had placed his trust.

If this Bible is trust he had placed his trust in himself and everything he accomplished. He wanted to have eternal life. But you can't get eternal life that way because as you know, God doesn't grade on the curve you have to get it all right and the only one who's ever gotten it all right is Jesus Christ, God's son.

And if you don't put your trust in him and let him take your test for you.

You can't go to heaven and Jesus was doing surgery on this man's heart literally trying to help them understand that all the things he thought were enough, they weren't enough, and that's why he was so empty and all that man needed to do was to transfer his trust from himself and put it in Jesus Christ. That's all any of us have to do what are you trusting him to go to heaven.

Whatever it is.

If it's not Jesus Christ, it won't get you there. You say, let's pretty now I have to tell you that's what the Bible says I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes to the father except me. No exceptions. No clauses underneath the unvarnished truth of the gospel is if your trust is in anything else except in Jesus Christ you will miss heaven so much of this man have done if we could write a new ending to the story, what would it look like all I get it. I'm just doing what I thought I should do and I realize I've spent my life building up things for myself, and I've missed the truth of your plan. More please forgive me for not acknowledging your wonderful grace for me.

I've been gifted to do this.

I'm good at raising money. I'm good at business and I let that become my God, I want to put that all aside, I want you to be my God my faith in you.

I want to transfer my trust and I want to believe that Almighty God, I want to put my faith in Jesus Christ is the only one who can get me to heaven. Somebody will say if you look back on that story.

Five years from the this man is become a Christian, would he be poor Ono would probably still be knocking the ball out of the park in the industry. Wherever he was in only now it would be all focused on his new love the Lord Jesus Christ stories about you gotta become poor to become a Christian. Stories about you gotta become committed to Jesus Christ as opposed to being committed. You can't have two thrones in your life. Only one in Jesus Christ is the only one that would get you to heaven with him on the throne and then subjugate all of this other stuff under him and watch God use you in a way you've never thought possible to do that you will walk away sad. You walk away with the greatest hope in your heart you ever had your life. This Jesus that I have come to give you life and life more abundantly. He's not coming to make your life miserable. He's trying to help you understand if you put your trust in him, you can become a Christian until you do that no matter what you try is going to leave you feeling empty for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That's what assess so today where the rich or poor man or woman, young or old. It's the same truth for all of us.

If you want to go to heaven someday. You better put your trust in Jesus Christ and him alone. Watch what he does with your life he will take you places you never dreamed you could ever go he will make you the person that down deep in your heart and really always wanted to be and have sent you loose on an adventure in life is like nothing ever could experience in the good news is the adventure doesn't and when life answer on this earth continues goes on forever and ever and eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Tomorrow were going to talk about betting on the wrong world. I hope you'll join us then for the next edition of Turning Point will see you next time right here on this concession. The message you just heard originated from Shadow Mountain Community Church with Dr. David Jeremiah serves as senior pastor does not have tending point keeps you spiritually strong like to Turning Point PO Box 3838, San Diego, CA 92163 or visit our website at David Jeremiah.old/writing ask for your copy of the Bible finding Jesus in every book in the Bible is yours.

A gift of any amount you can also download the free Turning Point in my Latvia private smart device were searching the app store for the keywords Turning Point ministry instant exit programs and results. Visit Jeremiah.old/radio details on Gary Hook fleet. Join us tomorrow as we continue the series search of the Savior is here on Turning Point.

Jeremiah taking time to listen to and from these increased in size and