A rich young ruler once asked Jesus, “What must I do to get eternal life?” He thought he could find eternal life by his own strength. But Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). It wasn’t money that hindered the rich young man; it was self-sufficiency. You don’t need a system; you need a Savior. You don’t need a resumé; you need a Redeemer. You cannot save yourself.
It’s not just the rich who have difficulty with this teaching. So do the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, the religious. Those who desire God’s presence don’t brag; they beg. Admission of failure is not usually admission into joy. Complete confession is not commonly followed by total pardon. But then again, God has never been governed by what is common.
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