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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We have been reading in Luke Chapter 18 of the Rich Young Ruler meeting Jesus Christ, and how he was unwilling and unprepared to do what Jesus asked. He had a highly relevant question, and he came to the right person with the right question, but he found the answers were not to his liking and he walked away and he was exceedingly sad.
What was it that really made this young man sad? Was it the thought of losing his wealth and position and property and possessions? Or was it the thought of following Jesus, and just being a disciple, with no greater authority, position, possessions than any of the others?
And yet, he would have had more authority - power to heal - power to serve - power to minister to people in need - and in a real deep meaningful way. And then - power to be a ruler or a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ. O what he missed out on.
We never see everything at once. He would have been raised up to a higher position. He was being called to be a disciple of Jesus. He was being invited to become one of the sons of God. Here he is being offered real possessions - eternal possessions - and eternal life. He is being offered riches that would never lose their value.
Verse 25. Jesus goes to teach that to follow Him can be hard, but Jesus expects men to accept that, and in some situations Jesus is inflexible. Jesus will not compromise. Jesus makes the conditions, and He will not change them. Jesus will not water things down and there is no point in pleading that you are a special case.
I remember somebody saying to me, "It can be so hard at times. Why did He choose us?" All I could say was, "Aren't you glad?" The Jews have also thought that down through the years.
What potential there was in this young man's life - yet, Jesus let him go. Jesus allowed this young man to walk away. Jesus didn't go running after him to give him a second chance. Jesus didn't try to persuade him to change his mind - o, think about it - think again. The rich young ruler was unwilling to accept Jesus answer to his question.
He was prepared to keep certain commandments, but he was not prepared to obey the Commander. He left Jesus. He was so sad, and it showed.
Can you hear what is going through his mind? If that is what you are looking for - if that is what you demand - then, it's not for me - it's too much to ask - the price is too high.
This sort of thing continues to happen today. We have to learn to say YES to the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what He asks of us.
It costs to say YES to Jesus, but it costs immeasurably more to say NO.
Over the years we have seen people come and go - draw so near then walk away - come so close then run off when they see the price tag.
Normally people go, and defect, because they are not willing to pay the price.
Whatever Jesus asks of you - pay up - without complaining! Follow Me - sell that - get rid of that - stop that - sort out that. Jesus puts His finger on something.
God always has a people - Jesus Christ is always calling men and women to follow Him and serve Him and obey Him.
Let Him be Lord, and whatever He asks of you, pay the man.
When we set out to follow Jesus, we seldom know what all is involved - good things as well as paying the cost of carrying the Cross. Now and again we get a surprise.
When we begin to walk with Jesus, we are unaware of what is in the small print. We do not see the small print. Then, He asks us for something, and our reaction should be, "Lord, if that is what it costs here you are."
There are those who hear this and say, "Never - You are not putting that on me - I want to be free - free to do what I want when I want. No-one is going to be over me." That just cannot be.
Jesus speaks about the needle's eye gate - the little gate in the big gate in the gate to the city of Jerusalem. For the camel to get through the little gate when the big gate was closed - it had to kneel down - it had to have all its baggage taken off - it had to come in without all the clutter.
Verse 26. People began to ask when they heard this - "Who then can be saved?" And Jesus makes it clear that it needs a miracle - it will take a miracle - and when Jesus works that miracle, and changes a man's heart - heart, mind, feet, treasure all go in the same direction.
Verse 28. Peter says, "Lord when you called us, we just left everything and followed YOU." That's the way - that's what to do - and if you have a lot to leave in this world - you will be rewarded in this life - and then you will be with ME in the age to come.
No man will ever be poorer as a result of following Jesus Christ. Mark writes about this encounter – Chapter 10 verses 29,30 - and he does include another word, which Luke does not mention - 'with persecutions'! Check it out. It may be of tremendous help and blessing to you some day.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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