The Bible Column - Rejecting Eternal Life

“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Mark 10:17
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:21&22
Because this passage is detailed in both its interpretation and application, please take the time and read the entire passage of the above scriptures, to include Mark 10:17-31. Then please notice several things for this “Bible Column” from this passage.
In verse 17 above, we learn that, “there came one running…” This man was urgent in knowing the answer to his question. Secondly, he kneeled before the Lord…he was aware that the Lord was somebody that could maybe help him! He first called Jesus, “Good Master”, then later in verse 20, only “Master”. In this dual calling of Jesus, this one that came running, was not sure who Jesus was! Rather than knowing that Jesus is Eternal God and the coming Messiah and then Saviour of the world, this man knew only that Jesus was a “good teacher”. Hebrews 11:6 Then in the end of verse 17, he was searching for the one thing that he could do to inherit eternal life. In this, he was mistaken about 2 very important things. One, he was mistaken to think that eternal life could be earned by good works (Romans 4:1-6). Also, he was mistaken to believe that eternal life could be inherited! Rather, the gift of eternal life comes to each recipient only as a free gift of the God of Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Then, in the second verse recorded above, we learn that Jesus beheld him, loved him, and knew his heart. Jesus knew that his concept of receiving eternal life was linked to the fact that he had “great possessions”. (Verse 22) Jesus, to seek to help this man understand that his “great possessions” would/could not help him gain eternal life, directed him to “go sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor…” Also, that he would need to take up the cross of sacrifice and dedication, and follow the Lord! We learn in this, that this man was trusting his possessions rather than the living God and that he was not prepared to obey the Lord in his life!
Sadly, the man went away grieved from the Lord and eternal life that day, because “he had great possessions”. He had missed the truth of the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith! John 3:16 How about you today?