When Is Good Not Good Enough

"Now behold, one came and said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? So He [Jesus] said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments." - Matthew 19:16-17

I am certain that you know the story of the "rich young ruler" that follows that discourse. Jesus went on to enumerate the commandments He was alluding to. The young man said he did all of those things. Suggesting that if he did, wouldn't that make him good and deserving of eternal life? But then Jesus said - he must also sell all he had and follow Jesus. 

As sons and daughters of Adam, there is always something in us that keeps us from deserving our place in heaven. Jesus point was there is not one person who can enter heaven on their own merit. 

"... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" - Romans 3:23-24 

To be right with God, we must all be redeemed by faith in Jesus. The young man was convinced that he deserved to go to heaven because of the good things he had done - or perhaps more correctly,  the bad things he had not done.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10

What the young man did not understand and what we must understand is that we can never be good enough. We always need Jesus which is why God, the Father, sent Jesus, the Son, to do what we could not do. 

"Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:5-6 

What thing is it that you are trusting in more than God? Are you resting in your goodness which, by another name, is called self-righteousness?  Is what you are willing to do at God's bidding limited.  Are there are lines that you will not cross? Things that you will not give up? Perhaps attitudes that you harbor that you are unwilling to change. There is always something. But there is only one way to find eternal life - salvation.

That is the thing the young man did not get - do you? Don't use the good things you do as an excuse for accommodating the not-so-good things you do. That is you flesh at work. 

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." - Matthew 16:24

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone