Matthew 19:16-19 NLT
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is quoted to say this after writing the United States Constitution, which, in my opinion, second to the Bible, is one of the most exceptional papers ever penned.
There is another sure thing, and that is eternity. The question is, where will we be spending our time in eternity.
With God in heaven or separated from God in hell?
As Jesus was walking, a rich young man approached Him and asked, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus’ response to him was, “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question — if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
The young man continued, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied with the six of the ten commandments that deal with how we deal with others.
Matthew 19:20 NLT
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
We have a tendency to measure our heart condition based on measuring our good deeds against our sins. We will not go to heaven for anything that we do, but we will only get to heaven by God’s grace and submission to Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.
Romans 3:10-12 NLT
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
Romans 3:10-12 exposes what we are without Jesus Christ. We don’t get to heaven by what we do. We get to heaven only by what Jesus did for us.
Matthew 19:21 NLT
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:22 NLT
But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Unfortunately, the young man left sad because he was too attached to his worldly possessions to follow Jesus. He chose this world over the glory of the world to come with Jesus Christ.
There is a sacrifice that is necessary when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
When we accept Jesus Christ, most of us are not whisked away to heaven. We are left here to start working out that salvation.
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Look what God is doing:
1. “working in you.”
2. “giving you the desire.”
3. “giving you the power to do what pleases Him.”
So what do we do?
Revelation 3:20 NLT
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
God is a good God. He gives us plenty of opportunities to respond.
If you are reading this now and are not sure of your heart with God, this is the knocking.
Open the door and invite Him in.
Say with a submitted heart, “Jesus, I am a sinner. And I need You. I understand, and I am grateful that You came to earth born of a virgin. Lived a sinless life, You suffered, died, and were buried. On the third day, You rose from the dead. And You did this all to take away my sin. Please come and live in my heart.”
Welcome to the family of God.
Let the training begin. The good news is that God has given You the Holy Spirit, and you have everything you need to live a life submitted to God.
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
I know I already have this above, but I got sidetracked by asking those who may be reading this that are not committed to Jesus to receive Him.
*For those who have already received Jesus, I am back to my original train of thinking.*
*For those who are confused, please bear with me.*
If you feel that you lack the “desire” and the “power to do what pleases Him,” bring this to God. And start working out the wrong thinking that may be going on in your mind.
Psalm 139:23-24 NLT
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Doing this is a very active response to a lack of desire and power.
1 Corinthians 9:27(a) NLT
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
James 4:8 NLT
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
When we allow ourselves to be divided from God by our lust for the things of this world, we are giving up the blessing that God wants to give us freely.
Heavenly Father, please work in my heart, work in my mind giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases You.
I thank You for Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for my sins. I pray, Lord, that my thinking, attitude, and actions, glorify You in every way.
I pray that I am a faithful witness for You.
I thank You for the people You have put around me; I pray that I faithfully look for ways to serve them compassionately.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
