Good Enough To Live By, But Not Good Enough To Die By

 Mark 10:17-22 - 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments:  ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. [i] NKJV

Good Enough To Live By, But Not Good Enough To Die By

PPHC– 07-09-06

I. Notice the Good Qualities

A. He was EAGER – vs. 17

1. He came running to Jesus.

· He laid aside the gravity and dignity of a ruler when he came to Christ. [ii]

a. He had a made up mind…no time to be lost

b. Too many linger (Felix), but not this one

B. He was HUMBLE – vs. 17

1. He knelt before Jesus…He knew Jesus commanded respect.

2. Note the difference in the dress between he and Jesus.

• “It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to produce rain, broken grain to give bread, & broken bread to give strength. It’s the broken alabaster box that fills the room with fragrance.”

C. He had COURAGE – vs. 17

1. He ran when no one else ran.

a. It’s easy to run with the crowd…but harder to run alone.

2. None of his friends came with him.

• When someone asked John Knox if he was fearful of the Queen’s ruling on not to pray in public, he replied, “Why should I fear the Queen, when I have already knelt in the presence of the King today!”

D. He Showed DISCERNMENT and REVERENCE

1. He called Jesus “Good Master”

2. He saw what others failed to see.

E. He had SPIRITUALITY – v. 17

1. “What shall I do…?”

a. He had a concern for spiritual things…he was concerned about his soul

b. Notice that no one approached him about his soul…he came on his own.

F. He was MORALLY CLEAN – vs. 20

1. He had followed the law.

2. No bad habits or nor shady pasts to deal with.

a. An ideal man for church-membership.

b. Many a mother would want their daughter to marry this man.

G. He was RELIGIOUS – vs. 19-20

1. Religious, but lost.

2. He fasted, tithed, attended church, knew the law, but was not born again.

3. He had a hunger in his soul, but he was not saved.

H. He was WEALTHY – vs. 22

1. His money did not bring him happiness.

· Pleasure didn’t bring happiness (Eccl. 2:1); drank his wine (2:3); planted his orchards (2:5); he had servants waiting upon him (2:7); silver, gold, had his own singers (2:8); whatever his eye desired, he obtained it (2:10); viewing it all….it was VANITY (2:11)

I. He was YOUNG – Matt. 19:20

1. He didn’t want to sow his wild oats first…he came to Jesus. (Admirable)

2. He came, presenting himself, in his finest hour of life, before Christ.

J. He was of SOCIAL RANK – Lk. 18:18

1. He was a ruler…“archon” – “a first one” – he held a place of preeminence.

· Many today turn their backs on Christ for another rung on the social ladder.

2. Here was a ruler falling at the feet of a carpenter’s son.

3. What influence he might have had with those of his caliber for Jesus’ sake.

II. Lessons To Be Learned

A. The Basic Needs of Man Cannot be Satisfied By Possessions

1. Fame, fortune, or anything in this life…the world cannot satisfy the soul of man.

B. Opportunities Do Not Last Forever

1. Many pass away very swiftly.

a. This young man stood at the gate to heaven and then left.

· “Opportunities once rejected seldom, if ever, return.”

· Every day that you reject God increases the possibility that you will be lost forever.

b. Felix (Acts 24) “when I have a more convenient season I will call for thee.”

c. Herod Agrippa (Acts 26) “almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian…”

C. Usually, It is Only One Thing That Keeps a Person from Accepting Christ

1. A habit, an addiction, a relationship, your friends that draw you away from God.