Matthew 19:16-22
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."
How many times have you prayed to God and asked Him for answers to your problems? How many times have you cried out to God in despair and desperation, asking Him to heal you, help you, deliver and bless you?
And how often was God's answer to your prayers and questions much different than you thought they would be?
More often than not, when God gives you answers to your problems and prayers, it's NOT the way you thought God would answer! (His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts)
And more often than not, His answers cut right through your soul and pierce your heart, we all know the cliche, 'the truth hurts!', indeed it does, and the rich young ruler felt the scalpel cut of the Great Physician Jesus!
The young ruler was bold enough to tell Jesus that he had obeyed all the commandments since his youth and was quick to ask Jesus what he still lacked, and Jesus knows ALL of our hearts! He knew what would challenge the heart of the young ruler, that's why Jesus said to him, 'sell ALL you have and GIVE to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; AND come, follow me'.
Jesus answered the young man's question, but it wasn't what he wanted to hear, was it? NOPE!
And that's how it is with most of us in these days of excess, and live your best life now. To be perfect in Christ, to be a true disciple of Jesus, and to follow Him, takes DEATH TO SELF, death to your fleshly desires and carnal thinking. We must be willing to give up ALL to follow Jesus, we must be ready to leave everything behind and not look back if He calls us to do so. And we must be ready to suffer loss, affliction, persecution, and even physical death if that's the will of God.
Are you ready for God's answer to your questions? Are you really ready for the truth that will set you free?
In Jesus,
Tyrone
