Ignorant Invitation

Indictment Five: Ignorant Invitation.

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

“Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony,honor your father and mother, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered,“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:16-22

The simple but most important question.  “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” The answer was there is no way to do a good thing and get eternal life.

Why didn’t Jesus say, “Just invite me into your heart?” I haven’t been able to find any place in scripture where someone is asked to invite Jesus into their hearts.

Why didn’t Jesus say, “Repeat this prayer after me.” I can’t seem to find the verses that lay out the sinner’s prayer.

Why didn’t Jesus just lay out a wonderful plan? Where are the verses that lay out the wonderful plan Jesus had for this young man’s life?  He did lay it out. It was in dying to everything and following. It just didn’t sound wonderful.

I know that prayer is wonderful. I know about being “in Jesus.” I know about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I know that Jesus does indeed have a plan for me. I don’t think I would have thought it was a “wonderful” plan before I was saved.

Die to your old life. Give up everything. Follow me. I do hear Jesus saying either keep the law perfectly or give it all up and follow me. I am not as deceived as the young man was, believing that keeping the law perfectly was possible. I know my only choice is following. Death to self. Life in Christ.

How many sermons have  you heard in which the preacher tries to explain we don’t all have to give it all up and follow. It was just that this young man loved his riches too much. Sure none of us love what we have too much. Kind of makes you wonder why this whole tale appears in scripture if it only applied to one young riches loving young man, who just wanted one more thing: eternal security.

Can I know I am saved? Absolutely, but not because I prayed a certain prayer or came forward at a particular time. I know because I follow and I have fruit. It’s never perfect the following or the fruit. The following isn’t a straight line. The fruit isn’t bountiful. It is a following in a completely different and radical direction. It is fruit that was never possible from going my own way.

We have to stop telling folks to invite Jesus, or repeat prayers, or come forward just for a few minutes, when they need to die, and follow forever.