“One thing you lack…” Just one thing; just one area you need to get right. Would you like to have the weak areas of life reduced to just “one thing” in the eyes of the One who sees all? What a relief it must have been for the young leader to hear Jesus say you only need to change one thing to walk into eternal life.
He must have waited with bated breath as he looked eagerly into the loving eyes of Jesus. What is it, Lord? Tell me so I can get it right and receive the assurance of true salvation.
“Then Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and come, take up the cross and follow Me.” Mk 10:21
The words crashed into him like a powerful stream of cold water that made him stagger. “No! Not that! Anything else, yes. But no to that!” Conflicting thoughts raced through his mind. Warfare escalated. Hope like a great light flashed in front of him, but a deep sorrow rose up within him.
He so wanted eternal life! He so wanted to be a part of what Jesus was doing. “But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Mk 10:22 Unwilling to do the “one thing,” he turns and walks away. Sorry? Yes. Willing? No.
I am constantly amazed at how many people are willing to give up on their destiny over one thing they are unwilling to lay down. One thing that they determine is more important to them than the future Jesus offers.
Many walk away from salvation because of one thing they will soon discover they cannot hold onto anyway: A relationship with a man or woman, addiction, a genre of music, a cultural style, or sexual desires. Whatever it is, it cannot last. And even if it would last and even if someone could gain it all, Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mt. 16:26
Self is a horrible deceiver and a tyrannical taskmaster! Click To TweetSadly, millions have turned their back on the ONE who loves them enough to die for them because of one thing they refuse to surrender! Self is a horrible deceiver and a brutal taskmaster! We know this is true because we all have struggled with our greatest enemy, SELF.
How do we deal with this enemy? How can we overcome? Can we reach an agreement where we can live peacefully with the flesh? Jesus’ answer is that we cannot, dare not, make a treaty with the sinful nature of fallen self! Self can only be dealt with by:
1.) the act of “denying – losing sight of” self
2.) the taking up of the cross [the instrument of death to self]
3.) fully following Jesus! [See Mark 8:34-38]
These thousands of years later even professing follower’s of Christ are still trying to make treaties with self. Some even in ministry, hold on to jealousy and seethe with envy toward fellow Christian workers instead of rejoicing in God’s work. Too many choose to hold on to insecurity and smallness of heart. Instead of surrendering their fears and competitive nature to Jesus they surrender much of their destiny!
Whoever you are and wherever you are on your journey make the decision now that your life is entirely HIS. The only way to arrive at the destiny of God for your life is the way Jesus outlined: deny self, take up the cross and follow HIM!
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Keith Nix is the founding lead pastor of a thriving congregation, The Lift Church in Sevierville, Tennessee. [Visit www.TheLiftChurch.tv] He has traveled internationally since 1993 carrying a unique prophetic message of awakening to this generation. He and his wife, Margie, have one daughter, Isabella.
