The gracious hand of our God is on 
everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him. 

Ezra 8:22

Fellow Believer,

The story about the rich young ruler is recorded in all three of the synoptic gospels. He's the one who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, claiming that he had kept most of God's commandments since he was a boy. But when Jesus told him to sell everything and give to the poor, he went away sad because, as the Bible explains, he had great wealth.

Commenting on this encounter, most theologians and preachers are of the opinion that this young man failed to obtain salvation because he was unwilling to part with his wealth. Such a conclusion implies, however, that salvation is based on good works. That, of course, is at odds with what the gospel is all about.

By recording this incident in all of the synoptic gospels, I believe God is emphasizing that we are saved not only by His grace but that in the saving process He also removes stumbling blocks from our path to salvation.

You see, this young man was one of God's elect. We know that to be so because Mark 10:21 reveals that Jesus loved him. Now, God loves only the righteous; He hates the wicked. And since no one is righteous by nature, the ones that God loves are those whom God had chosen to save and whose faith is credited as righteousness.

Note that although this young man was wealthy and had some power (he is described as a ruler in Luke 18), he ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees before Him. In short, God had already started to humble him. Moreover, despite his apparent efforts to be a good person, he realized that it was not enough to inherit eternal life.

At this stage of his conversion, though, the shock of having to sell all his possessions was too much for him to accept. But isn't that the same with most of us. When God first drew us to Christ, we weren't quite willing to give up everything, were we?

No wonder Jesus says, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Compared to the rest of the world, we in the U.S. are all quite rich.) And no wonder the disciples responded by saying to themselves, "Who then can be saved?"

Thankfully, God is faithful. Hence, Jesus assures the disciples: "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Christ will save all those whom He came to seek and save.

Instead of judging the rich young ruler, therefore, we should be thankful that Christ not only died for sinners like us, but He patiently purges away our dross as He brings us into His kingdom.
 
 

Tom Holt, Editor
First Quarter, 1995

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