Not Good Enough Series

Over the last four weeks we have talked about the TV show “LOST”, but more importantly we have talked about what it mean to be lost. We have seen Jack –the Lost son, Claire—a woman caught in adultery, and Charley—the “wanna be” Rock Star whose life began to spiral out of control.

Tonight, we look at the entire cast. The passengers were on a flight to the United States but the trip was interrupted by the plane crashing—the 45 that were left are Lost. Suddenly, they realize that they now have to live each day fighting for survival. Fighting for life.

In the same way, each of us have to fight for our life—our eternal life.

Tonight, I pray that you will discover that the fight for eternal survival was won, and there is nothing we can do to earn the prize. Eternal life is found in Christ.

Look with me at Luke 18:18-30.

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left 5all and followed You.”

29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

As we look at this passage, we see that a certain ruler – or authority approaches Jesus to ask him a question. Mark’s Gospel says the man cam running out to meet him.

This man had one urgent question on his mind; a question that many never ask, a question that sometimes Christians take for granted.

I asked several soldiers in my Battalion – if they could ask God one question what would it be?

They answered with responses like:

• Why is there suffering?

• Is there really a Heaven and Hell?

• Or, Why doesn’t my marriage work?

These are responses that could come from anybody, but this rich man, sees that Jesus is the very son of God and asks him an all important question.

He Asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

This is a critical question – a question that all of us must ask.

Jesus forms his response in a question.

I. Works Aren’t Good Enough

Jesus says in verse 20;

20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

And the ruler says in verse 21;

21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

He was quick to give an answer. Yes! I have done those things all my life.

Much like a response you get when you ask someone if they are a Christian.

They will say, yes.

When do you go to church – I haven’t since I was younger, but my parents too me every Sunday.

Jesus says, “There’s one thing you lack.”

Jesus was making in clear to the man and everybody who was listing that Your works aren’t good enough!

We as humans try our very best at achieving salvation by doing good things.

Every other religion in the world tells you that there are certain things that must be done to achieve eternal life. And most of them teach to do truly good things and every time you do something good that gives you a step on your way to heaven.

There is nothing that can be done, so none of us can boast – none of us can take credit.