As I write this, I'm sitting on my bed with my family's laptop in front of me, my Bible to my left, a book on Babysitting slightly behind me, some clothes directly in front of me. There's homework and Key Club information on the kitchen table. I'm wearing my uniform from school today. Above my head is a bookcase full of books. My family has a fridge full of food and a couple TVs. Yeah, I may seem like a fairly normal American teenager. I mean, I'm not pregnant or doing drugs or going to drinking parties. And I don't cuss, and I try to be nice to everyone and I obey traffic laws. I seem good enough... Am I? Are you?
A rich young ruler approached Jesus during Jesus's earthly ministry. The guy falls on his knees in front of Jesus and cries out, "'Good teacher, ...what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" Then Jesus turns to the guy: "'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" (10:17&18)
Then the guy tells Jesus that he has kept all the commandments "since [he] was a boy" (v.20). Jesus then looks with love and compassion upon the guy. Jesus says, "'One thing you lack, ...Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.'" (v.21) Did I mention the guy was rich? Instead of doing what Jesus asked, he "went away sad, because he had great wealth." (v.22)
Was the rich young ruler "good enough"? I mean, he obeyed the commandments. He seemed like a nice guy. But his efforts to make it into Heaven, to gain eternal life, didn't work. The only way he could get eternal life was if he gave up what mattered most to him: his money. Are you holding on to something so tightly that you're pushing God away in the process? Give it up! Jesus is asking for the hard stuff. He isn't accommodating. He wants to be first in your life. When Jesus says, "Come and die," he wants your life. He can do great things through you when you aren't afraid to let him use you.
So, no, none of us are good enough. But Jesus died for us to cleanse us from our sins and provide a way for us to gain eternal life without having to be "good enough". Through him, we are way more than "good enough" -- we are God's children and co-heirs with Christ.
Alex W / Message Writer
