What must I do to have eternal life?

You may be familiar with a story in the New Testament (Luke 18:18-27) about a very wealthy man who came to Jesus. He was called a “ruler.” He was a magistrate or a person with authority and influence, besides his wealth.

This man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what shaIl I do to inherit eternal life?”

People all over the world are asking this question. They are getting different answers. Some are told to literally kill those who do not believe as they believe. Others kill with their judgments or accusations, their words, justifying themselves and comparing themselves to others. Some are working hard, doing good humanitarian works, trying to earn God’s favor. Many believe if they just live as a “good person,” God will reward them at the end of their life.

However it is imperative that we know what God says about eternal life and how we can obtain it. He alone knows the answer and He reveals the Truth.

First of all, Jesus questioned the young man who called Him “good.” The young man approached Jesus as a “teacher.” And Jesus was pointing the young man to God, who alone is good.

Jesus knew that this young man was relying on good works to bring him close to God. Jesus confirms what is in the man’s heart as he reminds the young man of the commandments. And the man affirms that he has kept the commandments since he was young.

Yet, we do not know why the young man was asking Jesus this question. Was he wanting affirmation that in keeping the commandments, he would find eternal Life?

Jesus had just told a story (Luke 18:10-14) of a man who kept the law, but who walked in pride. This man was a Pharisee, a religious man who studied the law, and taught law to others. The Pharisee stood in the temple praying “with himself,” thanking God that he was not like other men. He reminded God of all the good things he did: fasting twice a week and giving tithes. But Jesus contrasts the Pharisee to a sinner who was standing far off, not willing to lift his head toward heaven, and crying out for mercy. This man admitted to God that he was a sinner and needed God and God’s mercy. Jesus finished the story by commending the sinner who humbled himself and turned to God, rather than the man who walked in pride.

It is at the end of this story that the young man brings his question to Jesus. Perhaps his heart was touched, as he knew he had followed the law. I have often wondered if this young man, even after all the good things he had done, knew he was missing something. Did he sense that he did not have eternal life even though he followed the commandments? Jesus' teaching constantly pointed to His being the only way to eternal life with God (John 14:6).

Jesus told the rich man that he lacked one thing.

Do you look at those who have much more of the world's treasures and believe they have everything? Do you believe that earthly treasures are proof of favor with God? Do you ever feel that if you had MORE money, more things, more earthly possessions, life would be better or easier? Yet Jesus constantly looks at the heart, and sees what is lacking. The treasures of the world are not the answer to life. In fact, in James 1:9-10, we see that God does not look at earthly riches the same way we do. He is not impressed with ease and comfort, and He, Himself, lived without a place to lay his head. He knows what has lasting value and what does not. He provides what is truly needed for us to have LIFE.

Jesus told the man to sell all he had, all his earthy treasures, give it to the poor, and to come and follow Jesus. That is the thing the man lacked, and that would give him treasures in heaven.

I have heard it explained that this story teaches us not to love the things of the world. The rich man refused to let go of his earthly riches to gain eternal riches. His love for money and things was a substitute for a relationship with God.

God has called us to lay down everything, and surrender to Him. We are told many times and many ways, that if we love the world, we do not love the Father (1 John 2:15-1-7). The things of the world as passing away, but knowing God and having relationship with Him has eternal impact. It will never die.

Yet, we often settle for those things of the world that we think have value. God says, we cannot serve God and mammon – earthly riches (Matthew 6:24). We have to choose. God will not allow us to have a divided heart. We must forsake, lay down, all things to serve Him. Or we will forsake Him to love and serve earthly things.

God wants us to surrender all things to Him. That is not just a one time event, but is constant, as we our love for God increases and we are detached from the world. Asone of my favorite songs says, "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace" (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Lemmel).

However, there is more to this story. The young man became sorrowful at what Jesus said. He was very rich.

Jesus saw his sorrow and told us that it is very difficult, in fact impossible, for rich men to forsake the world to enter heaven. Why did Jesus tell the young man to forsake the world if He knew it was impossible?

In the next few verses, we hear the rest of the story. Those hearing asked “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

God knows that we cannot surrender in our own strength. We cannot lay everything down. We can want to surrender. We can try. But the nature of man is to cling to things he can see, to reason how to provide for himself, to do things our own way.

God is telling us that eternal life is not something we can accomplish. It is impossible for man. Even surrendering to His will is not something we, alone, can do.

How then can we have eternal life? It comes ONLY through trusting the God. It is possible for Him.

When we face situations that we know are impossible for us, we have a choice. We can either keep on striving to do things our way and try to control the situation or do what we think is best; we can become sorrowful and walk away, becoming hopeless and defeated; or, we can turn to God, and trust Him.

We have no indication that the young ruler turned to God. He faced the impossible, but we are not told the outcome. Perhaps it is not for us to know, but only to use as a sign post to examine our own lives.

What do you have in your hands? Are you holding on to something? Is it good works, knowledge and obeying the law like the Pharisee? Is it power, influence and wealth like the rich ruler? Is it your failures and your sin, like the poor sinner?

Out of His amazing love for us, God is constantly pursuing us no matter who we are, man or woman, rich or poor, black, brown or white, old or young. He wants every one of us to have relationship with Him forever, beginning now. The goal of His life and death was to provide a way for us to be with Him, for us to be forgiven, for us to have eternal Life. He alone has made the provision.

Whatever you are holding tightly in your hands, the answer is to turn to God and trust Him. He will do what is needed. Do not let your ability separate you from God. Do not let your inability separate you from God. Do not allow possibilities or impossibilities to keep you from God. Turn to Him and trust Him in all things. There is nothing He cannot do. Your faith in Him and His power is the link, the connection. Our work is to trust in Him alone, and receive all He has done for us. That is the way to eternal life.

Can ALL THINGS be used for good?

Last month I wrote about using what we have for God's purposes. Sometimes we have more than we think. Often we are the last to recognize and have confidence in our areas of giftedness, especially when it comes to our spiritual gifts. We are aware of our learned ability…to write, play an instrument, study and learn a certain subject such as a language. But spiritual gifts must be revealed and discerned by the Spirit of God. That is not always as easy for us to comprehend.

However, my thoughts today focus on those things we "have" that are not polished, educated, perfected, or when they are obviously not an asset to our lives and to the Kingdom. What if my life seems overloaded with something that is normally used for destruction, to damage lives?

Today when I look at my heart, I see only things I wish were not there. I see attitudes and feelings that I deem unusable or destructive. The strongest thing in my life right now is anger. I have been walking through a situation that I have no control over. The only thing I can control is my response to the situation, and recently I have not done a good job of that. The situation is wrong according to God’s Word and is hurting people I love. I have spent years dealing with the wrongness of this situation, praying for those involved, and seeking God’s help in allowing me to resond with forgiveness, power and love that only comes from His Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

The situation has become gradually worse and more painful, until a few months ago, there was a revelation that the depths of depravity were far worse than I had expected. Since that day, I have walked in sadness, sorrow and grief. But my sadness and sorrow have turned to anger.

So, when we face a situation like this, is it possible that even a heart full of anger can be useful? Of course it is. People use anger every day. They use it to destroy reputations, relationships, character, hopes,dreams, confidence, and even lives in some cases.

But I am not talking about destructive “use” of what is in our hands. One reason I am angry is because the situation has had such a destructive impact on lives. I don't want to do the same thing. Is it possible for this strong anger to be used for God’s purposes?

I believe it is possible. I am aware that the possibility of my anger being turned into something productive for the Kingdom of God is totally out of my ability. However, Jesus said that what is impossible for man IS possible for God (Mark 10:27). I am trusting Him to show me, to lead me, to guide me.

In Romans 8:28, God says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” ALL things? What about my anger? Does He really mean ALL things?

If you back up to verse 27, you read, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” That tells me that no matter what my thoughts are or what is going on in my life, God Himself knows what is on my mind and He is praying for me, praying God’s will into my life. How amazing is that?

These scriptures are for me because I love God. I have answered His call to give my life to Him, so my desire is for His purposes and His will to be done. He is interceding for "the saints." Saints are not perfect people, but are those who love Him and seek His will in their lives.

Verse 29 shows us part of God’s purpose for His intercession “For who He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”

God knew you and me before we were created inside of our mothers (Psalm 139:13-16). And His planned purpose for mankind, from the very beginning of time (Genesis 1:26), was and still is that we will be conformed to His image. God’s plan is for us to be like Him, to have His character and nature of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22). He desires that so much, that He has promised that if we love Him, then He will use every situation, every possible thing that comes into our lives, for the purpose of making us more like Him.

This past week I have not looked much like Jesus. My anger has been polluted. Some of it is about Him. Much of it is over injustice, wrongness, deception, rejection, lies, and peoples’ unwillingness to do what is right. But some of my anger is about me, about what I want and what I feel. And as a Christian, when I am angry, I then often feel guilty, telling myself that I should not have any negative feelings toward another person.

I know that He has forgiven me. But I want more than forgiveness. I want change. Just as coal, under pressure, can be turned into a diamond, or a grain of sand in an oyster, can become a pearl, I want to see those things in my heart be turned to something valuable. I am putting God to the test; I am holding Him to His word, believing and asking Him to show me how He can use even my anger, my sorrow, and even a wrong situation, for my good and for the good of those I love. I am trusting that as He intercedes for me according to His will, that He will use ALL these THINGS, including my emotions, wrong thoughts, lack of understanding, guilt, hopelessness and even my anger, for my good and use it to conform me to His image.

Another way this can be used for good is for me to pray, pray, pray. I pray for myself, with confession and repentance, and acknowledgement of God's desire and ability to "cleanse me of all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). I pray for all those involved in the situation, including those causing the problems. I pray for people I don't know, across our nation and the world, who are walking through similar situations. I especially pray for those walking through these kinds of difficult situations who do not know Jesus, and are trying to find peace without Him.

I want to know how God sees my heart and what He thinks about my feelings. I want Him to use this to teach me more about Him. I want this situation and my reaction to it to be redeemed and somehow turned to good. I want to defeat the enemy with my prayers and with my coming through this situation in victorious thinking and acting. Through all of this I pray for God to bring me into closer relationship with Him. Only a personal and powerful God can preform such a miracle.