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In Luke Chapter 18 and at verse 18 ,- we read of a certain young man coming up to Jesus Christ. It is the rich young ruler - and he has a question to ask Jesus.

"Good teacher - what must I do to inherit eternal life?" This young man was a most attractive person - he was a ruler - he was religious - he was interested enough to come this close and ask this question - and he is asking a relevant question.

He is rich - and yet, all is not well with him. Something is upsetting him. He realised that although he was devoutly religious - he had no assurance that he belonged to God. He was searching - seeking - but, apparently getting nowhere.

Jesus said to him - "Why do you call me good - no-one is good - except God alone.

We have to be careful as to whom we call good - and what we say about people. Sometimes, it is better to omit certain words. Sometimes it is better not to say anything.

Jesus says to him - You know the commandments - you know what it says in the Word. Jesus refers this religious wanderer to the Authority and Reliability of the Word of God. "Do not commit adultery - do not murder - do not steal - do not give false testimony - honour your father and mother.

The young man replies - "I have kept all these since I was a boy." He was a moral young man - moral excellence - he was living uprightly and honestly. When he looked at his own life he awarded himself a pass mark.

He is saying - "Jesus, I've done quite well - I've done not too badly." And yet there is something missing in his life - something that was continuing to trouble him - something important - and it would NOT go away.

Jesus sees that something is missing - and when Jesus saw what was missing - Jesus said to the young man - "Sell all that you have - give the proceeds to the poor - and you shall have treasure in heaven."

Just get rid of your worldly wealth - and you will be spiritually rich. This would have happened - not because he gave away his money or sold his possessions and property - but because he obeyed Jesus. "Then, come follow ME."

This young man was being called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ - but he responded in the wrong way. How we react to the words of Jesus is vital.

This man's values were lop-sided - his mind was torn and divided. He was in two minds and he does not know which way to go. His love of goods, possessions, property, position - was greater than his desire to follow Jesus Christ.

When he heard what Jesus had to say to him - he became very sad - and Jesus saw it. His face revealed all that was in his heart and mind. So often, our face shows everything. This young man walked away from Jesus and we never hear of him again. Sometimes it doesn't take very much to make someone walk away.

Jesus went on to teach that riches and simple obedience do not live together easily. It is possible - but it is not easy to handle and control. It is easier to receive a million pounds than handle it.

Often in these passages Jesus refers to money and how we use it.

What was it that really made this young man angry? 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.

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!

Pay the Man - come to terms with that early. "Follow Me - sell that - get rid of that - stop that - sort out that." Jesus puts His finger on something – you ask me for intercession - there you are Lord.

God always has a people - Jesus Christ is always calling men and women to follow Him and serve Him and obey Him. 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."

We sign up in days of peace - but we pay up in time of WAR – and there is no guarantee that you will not be wounded or injured or killed.

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?" 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, and 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 – Mark 10 verses 29,30 - and he does include another word, which Luke does not mention - 'with persecutions'.

“Loving gracious holy Father – this Christian thing can be very challenging at times and to begin with it appears so costly – but when we see how Jesus gave everything – and when we hear the call of Jesus, it makes things a little easier – perhaps baffling at the start, as we are misunderstood. Help each of us – help us to sort things out as soon as we can – as we pray in Jesus’ name.” Amen.

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

3 steps to peace...