Luke 18:18 says, And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? A man who was a ruler asked Jesus, calling Him Good Master, what he had to do to inherit eternal life. People still ask this question today, and yet they often don't go to Jesus for the answer. He is still the only One Who can answer that question. Verse nineteen adds, And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Jesus asked the ruler why he called Jesus good, and said that there was none good but God. I believe that this was Jesus way of asking the ruler if he recognized Who Jesus really was. We still must acknowledge Who Jesus is in order to be saved and come to Him by faith acknowledging Him as our Savior and Lord. Verse twenty continues, Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. Jesus asked the ruler if he knew the commandments of God, listing those that had to do with a person's relationship with other people. We must know and follow God's laws today, but even if we do, that will not bring us salvation. Verse twenty-one states, And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. The ruler said he had kept these from his youth up. I believe that he was probably somewhat proud of that fact. Still, he could not gain everlasting life by his own goodness to others, and neither can we. Verse twenty-two adds, Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. Jesus told this ruler that he lacked one thing, and that he was to go sell everything he owned, give it to the poor, and come and follow Jesus. That meant giving up his position as a ruler as well. We must be willing to give up everything we have and come follow Jesus if we are to have everlasting life, beginning with our self pride. Verse twenty-three says, And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. When the ruler heard this, he was very sorrowful, because he was very rich. Whether we are rich or poor in the eyes of thecworld, we must be willing to give everything to God, but some people still are unwilling to do so, because they believe it will cost them too much of their material goods. Verse twenty-four adds, And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! When Jesus saw that this ruler was sorrowful, He said that it would be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, because they too often valued their riches above their relationship with God. Verse twenty-five continues, For it is easier for a their camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. This would be extremely difficult, but if they put their faith in Jesus above all their riches, it would be very easy to enter into God's kingdom. Too many people are unwilling to give up the riches of this world to follow Jesus though. Verse twenty-six states, And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? The people that heard Jesus say this asked if the rich and powerful, who were often looked up to, could not be saved, then who could. Jesus had already given them the answer, and that was that it was those who gave up everything in this world and followed Him. Verse twenty-seven adds, And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Jesus said that things which were impossible with man were possible with God. This discussion was about inheriting everlasting life. It is impossible for anyone to gain everlasting life by their own ability, but it is possible by putting their faith in God and the salvation that He made available through Jesus Christ. Verse twenty-eight says, Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. Peter said that the disciples had left all and followed Jesus, and so must we. Verse twenty-nine adds, And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Verse thirty continues, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Jesus said that anyone who gave up everything and put Him first would be manifoldly blessed in this life and would have life everlasting in the world to come. I believe the manifold blessing is not an abundance of material wealth, but is an everlasting relationship with God.
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