TITLE: COME AS YOU ARE, BUT DON’T LEAVE AS YOU CAME
SCRIPTURE: ST. MARK 10:17-22
I would like to talk to you from the subject this morning – Come As You Are, But Don’t Leave As You Came. Elect Lady and I were travelling in the car to Georgia and discussing the Church and what we all need to do to grow the Church to the next level. During the conversation she made the comment - Come As You Are, But Don’t Leave As You Came. The thought began to resound and resonate in my spirit. At that very moment, I knew it was a thought that must be examined from the pulpit.
I know this is a very familiar text, yet there are some treasures and truths this morning that should help and encourage us in our journey. A rich young ruler came to Jesus asking him what “GOOD THING” he could do to inherit eternal life, and the truth is that there is no “good thing” that one can do to inherit eternal life!
• He was a wealthy man, and a young man
• His eyes were set on religious matters
• His eyes were set on teachers, eternal life, good deeds
• He had the look of a seeker
• He seemed willing to listen and eager to learn
• He seemed a disciple-in-the-making
• He seemed a prime candidate to be a disciple in training
• His certificate was almost signed
• But his story has a dark end
It must have been quite a scene that day. Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to complete His assignment, when, suddenly, this young man came running toward Jesus and knelt before Him. As Jesus looked at this young man, he saw in him such Promise and such Potential. That’s why I love the Lord; he sees things in us that no one else sees.
• He sees beyond our faults
• He sees beyond our hang-ups
• He sees beyond our flaws
• He sees beyond our mask
• He sees beyond our idiosyncrasies
• He sees beyond our attitudes
--The Songwriter and Singer Marvin Sapp said it best –
HE’S SAW THE BEST IN ME
WHEN EVERYONE ELSE AROUND
COULD ONLY SEE THE WORST IN ME
We have to stop sizing people up around us. We want to qualify those we encounter as to if they are worthy enough for us to Witness or Evangelize. We must allow the Holy Spirit to show us their Potential, what and who they can become in Christ. This Rich, Young, Ruler comes running up to Jesus, Probably expecting a pat on the back. Look at the text again - Jesus beheld him, He loved him.
• Matthew, Mark and Luke all say that he went away sorrowful
• Matthew tells us he was a young man
• Luke tells us he was a ruler; in the high religious class
• Mark tells us he was rich
• That's why we call him “The Rich Young Ruler”
• Mark also tells us that as Jesus beheld him
• He loved him
You simply need to COME AS YOU ARE. IT IS NOT HOW YOU ENTER BUT HOW YOU LEAVE. You would think at first glance this young man had everything. Maybe even reading this account this morning some are even jealous at all he was able to do and accumulate in his young life. I believe somewhere along his journey he encountered Jesus and heard the Rabbi teach on Eternal Life. This grew his curiosity, so he is excited to once again see Jesus in his view and hastily runs to Jesus.
Can I FOOTNOTE here for a moment? No matter where we are in our journey, there will come a point in our life where we must come Running to Jesus. If you have not yet experienced that moment in your life, keep on living. There will come a time:
• You Can’t Wait Another Hour
• You Can’t Wait Another Minute
• You Can’t Wait Another Second
• You Will Come Running to Jesus
Although this young man may have appeared to have much; although he may have appeared to have himself all together. Jesus recognized there was something missing.
• He had much – Yet he lacked everything
• His life was full – Yet he was so empty
• He had financial security – Yet, he was spiritually bankrupt
WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE? Jesus has a way of dealing with us in an effort to help us focus on what is really important. You would think at first glance THIS IS REALLY A GOOD QUESTION. But, in reality, He could do nothing to “INHERIT” eternal life, but he could get himself in “POSITION” to receive the inheritance.
• What shall I do to inherit eternal Life?
• He knew it existed
• He knew he didn't have it
• He knew he wanted it
• He came to the right Person to receive it!
WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER JESUS, IT IS NOT ABOUT HOW YOU COME, IT IS ABOUT HOW YOU LEAVE. This young man’s sin was not against his brother; it was against God. Jesus had not asked him about the first commandment, “THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.” This rich young ruler had a god in his life! That’s why Jesus said for him to GO SELL ALL THAT HE HAD and give to the poor and follow the Lord.
• Selling everything does not save a sinner
• Giving to the poor does not save a sinner
• Following Jesus of itself does not save a sinner
• That would be nothing more than Religion
• Judas proved to us that religion does not redeem a soul
• This man had to get rid of his god
• This young man had to understand faith
• Then follow Jesus as his Lord and Savior
VS. 21 says that JESUS LOVED HIM. Jesus knew that this young man had another god, yet he still loved him. This young man did not love Jesus in return. He loved something more than loving the Savior. ST. MATTHW 10:37 “HE THAT LOVETH FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME: AND HE THAT LOVETH SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTH OF ME.”
• We don’t properly understand love today
• We are in love today and out of love tomorrow
• We confuse love with Lust
• We confuse love with Sex
• We confuse love with Beauty
• We confuse love with Assets
• We love the one we are with
• Jesus must be the priority in our life
• When we really love the Lord
• The rest of our relationships will fall into place
• If I don’t know how to properly and fully love the Lord, how can I properly love you
You must love the Lord enough to be willing to get rid of all these little gods that occupy our lives. The text tells us sadly, this young man went away sorrowful and grieved. Yes Church, Come As You Are, But Don’t Leave As You Came. It all starts with developing a Love for Jesus. We come into the Church week after week with no change taking place in our life because we “Kind of like Jesus.”
• Jesus is my Boy
• Jesus is my Road Dog
• Jesus is my Partner
• There is even a song that says – Jesus is Alright with Me
• None of this will do
• You have to Love Jesus just as Jesus loves You
Jesus said, “You know the commandments” and with an air of disappointment, as if he expected Jesus to tell him something else, he responds, “ALL THESE I’VE KEPT FROM MY YOUTH UP.” He then wonders what else does he lack.
• Jesus didn't say, “Well, you've arrived!”
• Jesus didn’t say, “Well Done!”
• Nor did He say, “You need more Decency - Uprightness - Integrity - Courage - or Reverence”
He answers this young man and tells him to GO AND SELL – not give it away – sell then give.
• If Jesus had been talking to Nicodemus instead of the Rich Young Ruler – He would have said, “Get rid of your fear of the opinion of the Pharisees”
• If He had been talking to Herod instead of the Rich Young Ruler - He would have said, “Put away your brother Phillip's wife”
• If He had been talking to King Agrippa instead of the Rich Young Ruler – He would have said, “Instead of being Almost Persuaded, you should be Fully Persuaded to give your life to me”
• If He had been talking to Pontius Pilate instead of the Rich Young Ruler – He would have said, “Stop washing your hands and be washed in the blood of the lamb”
• But it was riches that stood between the Young Ruler and Jesus
Just like most of us - THIS RICH YOUNG RULER WAS UNAWARE OF HIS OWN FAULTS.
• Suppose for a moment that the wealthy youth had never violated the commandments Jesus presented to him
• Suppose that he had never murdered - even with his tongue
• Suppose that he had not committed adultery - even in his heart
• Suppose that he had not stolen - or even envied
• Suppose that he had never spoken less than the whole truth
• Even still he was unaware of his own faultiness
Did you notice that Jesus only presented him with the parts of the Decalogue that deal with man-to-man relationships. The other commandments have to do with God-to-man relationships.
• This young man had obviously not fulfilled those commands
• If he had fulfilled them, he would have immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God
• But he did not recognize the deity of Jesus
• If you don’t recognize Jesus, you will leave just like you came in
The tragedy is that though he came to Jesus, he turned his back on Him and went away sad and sorrowful. Could you imagine the unthinkable - He did not get anything out of being in the presence of the Son of God. Aren’t we the same way today? We see those around us who leave the presence of God every Sunday, the same way them came in.
• Shouting going on – Not moved
• Shifting in the Atmosphere – Not moved
• Praise Team going to another level – Not moved
• Stirring Altar Calls and Prayers – Not moved
• Preachers delivering Powerful Rhema Word – Not moved
• Come As You Are, But Don’t Leave As You Came
Every time you come to Church – Every time you are in the presence of the Lord you should leave different. When some folks come to Jesus:
• Some leave Glad – Acts 3 The man at the Gate Called Beautiful
• Some leave Mad – Gen. 4 Cain
• Some leave Bad – Luke 18 The Pharisee and Publican
• Some leave Sad – When men turn their backs on Jesus and say “No” to Him, they will always leave sad
“HE WENT AWAY” - That short sentence contains the tragedy of a soul! This young man, holding his destiny in his hands - having the power to say yes or no, turned his back on the Savior of our Souls and refused to follow Him.
• When Jesus answered his question, notice how suddenly his interest, eagerness, enthusiasm cools off
• In case you are wondering Why?
• It is because he had great possessions
One moment he ran courageously to meet Jesus and knelt at His feet. The next he slowly gets up
from his knees and walks away. Carrying with him his find gifts and his materialistic heart. HE DID NOT DOUBT JESUS KNEW THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE; HE WAS JUST NOT WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE. He made a sudden discovery. He had never imagined that his riches or his trust in riches stood between him and eternal life.
• It's one thing to be disappointed in others
• It's another to be disappointed in yourself
• Strange, some folks say Jesus failed, because He did not win this young man
• It was not Jesus who failed; it was this young man!
This is how I understand and define my calling. My calling is not to save anyone, because I don’t have any power. Power belongs to God. If Jesus did not save all those whom he encountered, what makes us think that we are so gifted that everyone we encounter will come to Christ? It gets on my nerves when I hear the people of God and especially Preachers say “They expect everyone they witness to get Saved.” This is a misunderstanding of the Gift of God. Paul recognized there is a big difference between joining the Church and joining the Family of God.
Paul said it best “I PLANTED, APOLLOS WATERED, BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE.” So it was not Jesus who failed this Rich Young Ruler. It was the young man that failed in his decision.
• He had been concerned to keep the commandments - But more concerned to keep his cash!
• He bent his knee - But not his will!
• He bowed his head - But not his heart!
• He wanted heavenly treasures - But he couldn't give up earthly treasures
• The young man went away sorrowfully
• And Jesus let him go!!
• He didn't say, “Wait! Come back! I'll compromise! I'll meet you halfway!”
Perhaps this was the young man’s only mistake – HE WENT AWAY. This young man left the same way he came.
• I’m pretty sure he would have prayed a prayer if Jesus had given him one to pray
• I’m sure he would have made a decision if Jesus had given him a decision to make
• I’m pretty sure he would have agreed to some terms if Jesus had given him some agreeable terms
• Jesus never gave him a prayer
• Jesus never asked him to make a decision
• Jesus never called for a commitment
• He stopped him dead in his tracks
• His message was simple
• Come As You Are, But Don’t Leave As You Came
Maybe this is not the end of the story. Maybe the young man finished his grieving process and came back to Jesus. Maybe he went through the five stages of grief:
• DENIAL: “He can’t mean this?!”
• ANGER: “Some of the disciples get to keep some of their stuff. I’m not giving away everything. Look at Zaccheus. He just gave away half and Jesus applauded him.”
• BARGAINING: “How about I give away the beach house, but keep the one in the mountains?”
• DEPRESSION: “This is not working. Why do I feel so far away from life?”
• ACCEPTANCE: “Okay. I’m letting it go. I’m letting it all go. I’m trusting in you. Let’s go!”
--He went away sorrowful, for he was very rich
--He had his eyes on the things of this world
--He had his eyes on position
--He had his eyes on popularity
--The devil is a master painter, and he can make the world look very attractive to you
--But, if you go that way, you will miss the thought of the Christ
--You do not have to join a lodge
--You do not have to sacrifice your political convictions
--You must “LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND, AND WITH ALL THY STRENGTH”
-- Come As You Are, But Don’t Leave As You Came
