Shine on Us With the Light of Truth - Part 684

Jesus said to the rich man who came running after him, "Verily I say unto you. There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands -- for My sake and the gospels -- but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)

In this time. While we are still in this earth suit -- not without persecutions because with persecutions, we become sharpened and determined in our journey to inheriting eternal life. But if our goal in obtaining salvation is only about life everlasting, we become like the rich man who asked Jesus, "Good Master, what shall I do that I might inherit eternal life?" Indeed, we miss the point.

As Mark writes in the gospels, this is a man who seemingly did everything right. He obeyed all the commandments. And the young man had observed the commandments since his youth. Therefore, in his heart, eternal life was already his and here he was, waiting for Jesus to confirm the same.

But the man's heart wasn't right. Jesus knew this but He loved the man just the same. But there was one part of his heart that could not --- had not surrendered to Jesus and that was his "trust in riches." (Mark 10:24) Jesus "beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest; go thy way and sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven -- and come take up the cross and follow Me."

However, taking up the cross and following Jesus would mean that the young man would have to give up his trust in riches. He would have to surrender his whole heart to Jesus -- becoming a disciple for the King of kings and Lord of lords. He could not count all things as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Further, the man could not fathom the concept of not laying up treasures for ourselves on earth "where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal." (Matthew 6:19-21) Why? Because in his heart he was still serving two masters. Matthew wrote, "You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

Paul said, "for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in Him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." (Philipians 3:10)

Even though Jesus said, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" the man could not sell all that he had -- even though the Lord said He would give us hundredfold. (Luke 12:32-34) He could not take hold of the treasure -- the promise of peace and joy that passes all understanding -- that comes from following Jesus. Becoming a fisher of men. It is here that the man struggled.

This is why the Lord wants to shine in us with the light of truth. "For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also. [Therefore,] let your loins be girded about and your lights burning." (Luke 12:34-35) Let the blood of Jesus cleanse your heart and set your spirit free. Take hold of His promises -- Thy kingdom come -- Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Stand in the offering plate.