What prohibited the rich young ruler from obeying Jesus? He was man with high morals who recognized something special about the Teacher from Nazareth. “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” The young man may have expected the answer he received as Jesus listed several of the Ten Commandments. He replied, “All these things I have kept from my youth up: 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.”
Jesus puts His finger on the one thing in our lives that can prevent us from receiving true life. For some it may be material possessions, for others it may be knowledge, for others it may be family or friends. Jesus sees eternal truth when he looks at us; the world does not. Some might have argued that this rich young man would have been an important member of the early church. “Look what he could have done with his money!” But Jesus knows the things we often see as blessings are really the chains that bind us. Only one thing leads to eternal life, “Come and follow Me.”
Perhaps we all will be offended as we get close to the Lord… especially if we have much wealth, much education, or much status in society. “Do you trust that I see things as they really are? Are you willing to surrender all that has been most precious to you to follow Me? Don’t you realize I am the only Way? I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
“How can a man be born again when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You can hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:3-8