Mark 10:26-27 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"  Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

       The young man of this history asks that age-old question, the one that is still a plague to mankind.  He asked of Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
       The world answers that question with a myriad of in depth philosophical replies.  In other words if you listen to what the world says it seems that there are thousands of ways to answer that question.  Yet in reality the world has only two ways in which they answer.  Every answer you will ever hear from the world will be one of these two ways.  You can be saved: a.) by doing good in life  or b.) there isn't anything to be saved from.
       If you would just think about it for a moment you would realize the truth that is found here.  The base principle of man is that we must do good.  Of course, the problem that man has with this kind of religion is clearly defining what the word "good" means.  Some work righteous religions stress that being good means living in a monastery, staying single, spending a life time saying prayers and spending a lifetime taking care of the poor around you.  Other religions stress that being good is a matter of working hard, being a good father or mother, being honest and thoughtful, and taking care of the poor around you.  And then there are still other religions that state that being good is a matter of making converts for your religion.  That must be your goal!  Some religions make converts by preaching and teaching their message and others make converts by offering you life or death in the name of their god.  Still other religions say you are good when you kill and eliminate the unbelievers as they see it.  It can all be quite confusing.  Who do you believe?  How can you know what to believe?  How can you ever know if you have been good enough, if you have done enough for eternal life?  No matter what is taught in such religions, such work righteous religions, the soul that is thoughtful and concerned with God will still end up asking the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
       And then there are those religions, really those non-religions that say, "There is no after life.  Eat, drink and be merry now, for tomorrow you die and that's it!"
       Of course, what makes me laugh is the fact that while the world teaches such things it pursues things like contacting the dead, speaking of ghosts, spirits and magical powers.  It just goes to show that they don't really believe what they claim they don't believe.  In my experience such souls still walk around with the question in their hearts, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
       Yes, let's ask that question.  Let's ask about what there is in the after life that we should know about.  Let's seek the wisdom and direction of Jesus in this matter and see what the real answer is that we are to hear.  Our theme for today will be: JESUS, WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?  1st. Works are out.  2nd. Everyone is out.  3rd. God is the Doer!
       You realize that already in his response Jesus has clearly taught us a lesson.  Please note that when asked about eternal life Jesus doesn't say, "Hey, it doesn't matter!  Everyone gets to go to heaven because there is no place like hell."  Nope, you find Jesus speaking directly to the question and thus validating that this is a question we should consider because there are concerns we are to have about eternal life.  Of course Jesus has a fairly hard case in front of him.  This rich young man thinks he is going to get to eternal life by what he does.
       So Jesus asks him what the Word says, more specifically Jesus asks this young man about the law.  What does the law say?  It says, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother."  It is the second table of the law, the part that deals with our relationship to our neighbor.  What do you say of these commands of God?
       The young man's reply is simple.  "All these I have done since I was a boy."  What a remarkable statement!  This young man claims that he has kept the law, that he is perfect as God the Father demands of us.  What is all the more remarkable about his statement is the fact that it is not made in ignorance but rather in arrogance.  We learn from the other gospels where this incident is recorded that this young man is a ruler, a religious leader among the Jewish people.  He had been exalted in the eyes of the people and though he was a leader, a person to look to for guidance and help it is rather clear that he didn't have the answers, at least not the answer that really counted.  He claims that he has kept the law.  He claims to have done what God demands.  But it is clear that he knows, knows deep down that he is not right.  It is clear because he still comes to Jesus and asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
       This young man is bothered by the question "How good is good enough?"  He claims obedience to God and yet is filled with doubt and fear about his eternal soul.  He fails to see that his base problem is himself.  His focus is himself.  What he is!  What he has done!  What he must do and even what he has!  His focus is wrong and that's why his soul is so troubled.
       Jesus gives the next challenge.  He says to this young man, "One thing you lack.  Go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me."  He came to Jesus for the answer and Jesus gave him one, but one he didn't like.  Sell everything.  Give it to the poor.  Come follow me.  Be my disciple and learn the truth.  Sit at my feet and hear the plan of God and the wonder of his grace.  Don't just pretend to follow God.  Don't just pretend that God is the most important.
       We are told the young man went away sad.  Sad because he had great wealth.  His money, his wealth, his property, his material possessions meant more to him than God.  His question inquired about his eternal life yet his attitude shows he was more concerned with this life.  Jesus offered him the treasure of heaven.  Jesus offered him the eternal salvation of God's grace.  This young man walked away, turned his back on the Lord and the truth Jesus offered.
       Jesus comments and points out to his disciples how hard it is for those wrapped up in this world, wrapped up in self to inherit eternal life.  How did he put it, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."  But it wasn't the wealth that was the problem.  Abraham, David, Solomon and many others found in Scripture were wealthy and got to heaven.  The difference was the attitude.  For this young man and those like him this world, love of this world, love of self, yes, the having and possessing of this world is the measure.  It is the wrong measure.  It is the measure of idolatry.
       The disciples clearly grasp this fact.  The disciples, still confused from their own work righteous training, state, "Who then can be saved?"  What human on their own power, by their own wisdom, with their own strength can be saved?  What human with their lists of good works, with their certificates of human applause, with their declarations of "I feel this is right" can usurp the demands of God and be saved?  None!  Not a single human can achieve what God commands in his law.  And that's just it.  If you are going to save yourself then you must keep the law of God perfectly in every way: in thought, in word and in deed.  You must be completely and thoroughly perfect, not one fault, not one foible, not one slip of the tongue, not even one brief lust of the mind.  The disciples are right.  "Who then can be saved?"  On our own we are just not good enough.
       But Jesus gives the answer.  Jesus says, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
       What an absolute joy, these words!  They remind us, yes they proclaim that our salvation is not in and from us.  We can't achieve salvation.  We can't save ourselves in any way.  It is something that must be done from and of God.  With God salvation is possible.  It is possible because of God's total power and might.  God can put that camel through the eye of the needle and God can also save the souls of mankind.  God has done this saving in His Son Jesus.
       Here is the real marvel of salvation.  God sent his Son to be our Savior, the one who saves us.  God sent his Son to live the perfect life and then to be the perfect sacrifice for sin.  What we could not do, Jesus did for us.  What we failed at, Jesus accomplished.  And then to make sure that this would be so, Jesus went to the cross and there paid our debt of sin.  He was not just the perfect life but also the perfect sacrifice, the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  He took our sins and paid their price.  He took the wrath, anger and hatred of God against sin.  He suffered the agonies of the whole of eternal hell, erasing our debts and granting us forgiveness and eternal life.  With God all things are possible.  This fact rings out all the more as we then think of the fact that Jesus who was dead rose from the dead.  He lives.  He came back to life to prove his all-surpassing power, to prove who he is and what He has done.  He rose from death and ascended into heaven the hero, the Victor, the Lord and Savior of all.  Death has been conquered.  Hell has been paid for.  Eternal life is won in the resurrection of Jesus.
       But that's not where God's work of redemption stops.  Do you think on your own you could believe or have faith?  Do think you could grasp the wisdom and deep mystery of Jesus, son of man and Son of God?  Do you think that God just started you out and that then you must complete what he has done?  Then you are no better off than that rich young ruler.  You are still focused on you.  Still locked into what you need to do for salvation.  It is when God grants you the wisdom to know that it is all done in Jesus that true peace becomes yours.
       The peace that I speak of is God's peace.  The certainty of sins forgiven and eternal life with God.  It is a peace the moves us to care about God and his Word.  It is a peace that puts confidence and trust in God's promises and blessings.  God has made us his.  God has adopted us into his family in Jesus.  God has opened heaven's gate wide for us because of what Jesus has done.  We have this peace because God has given it.  We have this peace because God has promised and delivered it.  We have this peace in Jesus and His redemption.  It is that simple and sure.
       But please be careful.  Don't get into thinking that you have this peace because of you.  When we are satisfying the desires of our sinful nature, proclaiming these sins our right as humans that is not faith in Jesus.  God's Word makes it clear that to pursue sin is to reject the blessings and gift given in Jesus.  The child of God, given faith by the power of the Holy Spirit pursues righteousness.  The child of God seeks to please God and follow the law of God not to gain eternal life and forgiveness but because they already have it.  The attitude is a reflection of Christ in the child of God.  It's just there because God has given it.
       We cannot save ourselves.  We cannot earn or merit heaven.  God grants it.  God grants it by faith in Jesus.  God calls every child just like this young man was called.  Give up yourself and come follow Jesus.  Follow because He is the answer.  He is life and salvation.  Amen.