Passage Read: Matthew 19-20
Meditation Verses: 19:16-22
Thought
We want to know what good thing we can do to gain eternal life. Just give me one magic deed, one act that can guarantee my salvation. And Jesus gives it to him: Obey God's commandments. Which sounds like works-based salvation, but it's not. Jesus is actually pointing to a lifestyle change based on belief and trust in God and who He is. Because He is Almighty God, so I will live as He prescribes. This has always been the way of salvation: Believe in God and show it by a life lived in submission, trust and obedience to Him. But that's not what the man or many of the rest of us are seeking: We want the quick fix, the shortcut. Which commands? All of them! But Jesus gives a short list of the already short Ten Commandments--all the "love your neighbor" commands, but interestingly, none of the "love God" commands. The man thinks it's about the right rules, not all of them. He thinks it's about the rules, not about our heart posture before God. And of course, he has a high opinion of his compliance: "I've kept all these." Except he didn't notice what Jesus left out. He has only kept the face of those commands, not the heart, as shown by Jesus' last challenge: "Sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow Me." He can't give up his wealth. His love for neighbor has only been superficial, as long as it didn't cost him anything—even though he was surely generous in his own eyes! It's easy to think highly of yourself when everything comes easy to you and you have more than all you need. You're not depending on God and walking by faith in Him. You're doing what you think is good and right, based off some of God's ideas but not the real meaning and purpose. Eternal life is granted to all who believe in God fearfully, so as to trust and do what He asks, to all who live to please and honor Him, not to those who do just the bare minimum, thinking to give God what He wants without giving up control of their life.
Application
This is so telling. We're still looking for that quick fix, and we've reduced the Gospel to that same level as this man did God's commands. What one thing must I do to inherit eternal life? Believe in Jesus—period. But that's not the Gospel that saves. We are called to believe in the Jesus who is Christ, King, Lord, God, Judge, Ruler. His sacrifice was to clear away our rightful condemnation and purge our sin nature and stone heart, replacing them with a nature that loves God's Word and ways, and a heart that responds sensitively to His commands and the leading of His Spirit. He rose to life again to rule and reign in my heart and life. It's not about one act or one deed, but about a changed life, giving up my wisdom and ways so as to trust and follow Him completely, living and doing as He desires, first and foremost, and leaving my safety and supply to His care. I miss the boat completely when I miss that the Gospel means I died to myself and this world and was raised to live for Jesus. I have eternal life when I recognize the error of my former way of life, receive His gift of forgiveness, and surrender control of my life and ways to His direction, to live as He always intended His people to live: in worship of Him that leads to genuine care and concern for my neighbors to His glory.