Lk 18 18-30 If He Can't-Who Can?

A young man seemed to do all the right things. He strived to obey the law; he recognized that he had no assurance of salvation; he came to the right person; he asked the right question. What could be better than a hot seeker?

In today's world, we would think that this person is ripe for the picking; the harvest has come to us.

But Jesus knew the man's heart. He was self-deceived. He did not acknowledge his own sin. Worse than that, he was unwilling to live unto Jesus alone.

The issue was not that he was wealthy; though his wealth proved to be the symptom of his stumbling block. The issue was that he was unwilling to deny himself and yield control of his wealth, pick up his cross, and follow Jesus.

He wanted to have his wealth (thought to be a significant sign of God's blessing) and Jesus.

Salvation does not come to anyone who desires to have Jesus-and.

It comes to those who desire to have Jesus. Alone. Period.