My heart is constantly broken when people I've invested in, or people I've counseled, or people I have discipled walk away from Jesus (even if it is for a short time). It's like they constantly are fighting God's will in their life...and I think they are. We want our lives to be a specific way. We allow the culture around us to tell us what we should wear, who we should seek as a mate, what kind of house we should have, jobs, and more. We build an impossible picture of what life should be and we make it our goals. Don't we complicate things? What if the goal was a lot more simple than we thought? What if the goal was not to "get the most out of life," but rather to change the reflection in the mirror? And what should that image reflect? Quite simply, we don't need to be better versions of ourselves. We don't need to be perfect. We need To reflect Christ. In every decision, thought and action, the Word tells us constantly to "think and Act like Jesus." If we're not doing that, we're thinking of ourselves, and acting only for our own benefit. That is the World's way of thinking, and friendship with the world to be an enemy of God. We are called Christians. The word means "little Christ." Do you feel like it? Are you acting like it? Are you seeking Christ in all you do? The solution is simply difficult: simple, in that we know what we need to do, difficult in that we can't let go of what holds us back. Simply put: we need to drop everything else and come to Jesus. We need to get rid of those things that hold us back, stop trying to be a good person and have it all, and get to Jesus any way we can! The world and all its ploys hold us back. Jesus is the ONLY way. Wouldn't it be best to look like Him? Don't trade eternity for pleasures in the here and now.
Matthew 19:16-30 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Rich Young Man
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[a] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold[b] and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 19:28 Greek in the regeneration
b. Matthew 19:29 Some manuscripts manifold
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