Who Then?

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Luke 18:26, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “Heard this?” Heard what? Looking at the immediate context, we are tempted to conclude it is this: “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.” (Luke 18:25, NIV 1984). While this is certainly true, I think that it goes deeper than that. The larger context was “a certain ruler [who] asked [Jesus], ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'” (Luke 18:18, NIV 1984). His claim was, “All these [the commandments] I have kept since I was a boy,” (Luke 18:21, NIV 1984). A bold claim (if true), but “[Jesus] said to him, ‘you still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.'” (Luke 18:22, NIV 1984).

The certain ruler’s response? “He became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.” (Luke 18:23, NIV 1984). Matthew, in his Gospel adds, “he went away sad.” (Matthew 19:20, 1984). He did not follow Jesus because he could not let go of the “one thing.” Which brings us to the central truth of the Gospel, how Jesus responded to the young ruler’s initial question. “‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good—except God alone.'” (Luke 18:19, NIV 1984). This, in turn, leads us to how Jesus responded to His disciples. “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27, NIV 1984).

My Advice – We all have at least one thing we “lack.” At least one thing that keeps us from being good. Good enough to inherit eternal life. That makes it impossible to inherit eternal life. No one is good enough – “except God alone.” And that makes ““what is impossible with men…possible with God,” through His Son, Jesus Christ. But we must be willing to give up “everything” and to then “[go] follow [Him].” There is no good reason to “[go] away sad.” Because God made the impossible, possible. That is the central truth of the Gospel. So why not make the Gospel the central truth of your life?