For goodness sake, believe. Matt. 19:16

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Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
It would be easy to get stuck in the big picture of this story in Matthew. A rich man comes to Jesus and asks what some might think is a rather simple question. So Jesus spells it out. If you are seeking eternal life, obey the Word: Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie or gossip. ... And if you think you have those bases covered, then make sure you also sell everything you own, take up your cross and follow Jesus.

That man, just like me, was crushed. I haven't killed anyone. But obeying the Law ... well, everyone fails. To be clear, EVERYONE fails, everyone except Jesus, that is. Jesus (Matt. 19:26), and Paul (Rom. 3:20) make that perfectly clear in the New Testament. And the Old Testament writers did, too, most notably David in Psalm 14.

Maybe you missed it, but that was the point of the story: "There is only One who is good" Matt. 19:17. And it isn't you or me. There is only One who is good: Jesus. He is telling us that if you think you are a good person, think again; if you think you are a good Christian, think again. If you think you are a good Buddhist, well, you really better think again.

“Who then can be saved?”  The apostles asked (Matt. 19:25).

Everyone who believes, in Jesus, is the answer (John 14:6). Believing in God is a beautiful thing, but even the demons believe in God (James 2:19). What's important is believing in Jesus ... God incarnate.

Believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, and you will be forgiven.

If you believe, well, praise be to God because “with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26).



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