Immanuel Church

Tom Cox

Immanuel Church

Nashville, Tennessee

28 March 2010

 

INTRO:

I really enjoy the thought that all over Nashville, at this very moment, there are thousands of people congregated in one church or another worshipping God with one heart and mind, learning from His word, growing to trust him more, enjoy him more.

But I also cannot help but think that all over this city there are also thousands of people sitting in one church or another – perhaps some of you –  with a silent ache in their hearts.

The ache of longing, the ache of shame, the ache of “Is this it?”

Such people look around the room and reason that Christianity seems to be working for some folks, which may only intensify the ache rather that encourage it.

 

I sense the ache, because I believe I feel it at times myself.    

 

This morning we focus on a rather fascinating dialogue; one between Jesus and a man who is only described as young, wealthy, and – according to Luke’s account – a ruling authority of some sort in the community. 

But there’s something in this man’s question that illuminates the desperate condition, the ache, of every soul.

 

In fact, what’s most fascinating about his question is that he felt the need to ask it at all.

In the Jewish culture of biblical times wealth was understood to be a sign of the Lord’s favor and blessing.

Everyone looked at this guy and thought, God is sure smiling on him.

But this man comes to Jesus searching for answers.

 

We have no reason to doubt his sincerity.  He is clearly a devout man, attempting to follow God’s commandments as he understood them, and he’s seeking eternal life. 

All good stuff.  Nothing there that hints of haughtiness or hypocrisy.  He’s what everyone would consider a good guy, and clearly pleasing the Lord based on his financial and social status.

 

“What do I still lack?” he asks. 

What made him think he lacked anything?

Something is missing, and he can feel it.  There’s an ache there.

 

“I’m doing everything I know to do, so why am I not there yet?”

 

And we all have this sense of where “there” is.

“There” is where peace is; where joy is.

I want that place I was made for, where my life is characterized by fruit, and my soul is at rest because I know what my eternity is – and it’s glorious.

 

We want more, and so we reason we must not be trying hard enough. 

What else do I need to do to make God’s plan work for me? 

We find three questions from this passage that we desperately need answered:

1)       What is the problem?

2)      What is the remedy?

3)      How do I get it?

 

1.  What is the problem?

Jesus, in His wisdom, sees it in this man immediately, and wants to help him see it too.

His first response to the question is a question of his own that underscores the most critical word in the young man’s statement: [read text:  “What good thing…]

 

“Good?  Why do you ask about what is good?”

Good is a relative term – ultimately relative to God who is goodness.  In other words, all goodness comes from him.  He is the standard of what true goodness is.

 

This man saw goodness as an attainable attribute, a human quality by which he could become morally self-sufficient.

 

“What good thing can I do so that I can become”…what?

            Good.

“And then when I am good, God will”…what?

            Reward my goodness with eternal life.

 

Jesus’ reply:  Only one is good.

i.e. human goodness is to be found not in our own resources, but in accepting his standards, and reflecting his character.

So it is through keeping God’s commandments, not performing good deeds of our own devising, that we may enter life.

 

The commandments thus function not as an automatic passport to life, but as a pointer to the absolute goodness of the one who gave them.

 

So if only One is good, what’s the bad news for you and me?

You are not good.  When it comes to God’s commandments, we fall horribly short.  We are a mess.

 

And the Good news?

God is good. 

And He has come after you and me, and will take all of the goodness of himself in Christ and put it on our account.

If we just let go of our goodness and follow Jesus.

 

The path of goodness is found in the law of the commandments, and he tells this man so.

 

“Which ones?” the man asks.  Which ones?!

In other words, could you please be more specific, Jesus?

Just tell me what to do. I’m ready!

 

Now Jesus’ response is quite interesting.

In the 10 commandments:

1-4 deal with how we relate to God (love the Lord your God, do not keep idols in your life that substitute for God, etc)

5-10 are concerned with how we relate to others (do not steal, murder, lie, etc.)

Jesus brings up commandments 5-9. Why?

What is unique about those, and which ones did he leave out?

5-9 are concerned with more observable actions, and are therefore relatively easy to check one’s performance against them:

Do not steal?

      Check.

Do not murder?

      Check.

Do not commit adultery?

Check.

 

First of all, Jesus had previously explained in chapter 5 in the Sermon on the Mount that this is a woefully inadequate view of “keeping” the commandment to love one’s neighbor as yourself.

 

Second, the ones he left out are those that deal with what: how one loves God (1-4) , and number ten:  You shall not covet – which deals with possessions, this man’s particular weakness.

Jesus is more concerned with this man’s heart, not his actions, and that’s where he goes next.

 

The young man senses that this is not enough.  He knows something is missing.

And so Jesus reveals his divided heart:

OK.  If you want to be perfect…Go sell everything – all that you have, give it all away, and come follow me.

Can you let go of your wealth and grab onto me?

 

He can’t.

Notice, it’s not that he won’t – he literally cannot choose Christ over his money.

This is Jesus’ point when he compares this man’s ability to get himself into God’s Kingdom with a camel going through the eye of a needle.

 

There is a popular interpretation out there…[explain]

There is no such gate, and the context of the passage will not allow it.

 

We are all like this man. 

You are not good enough to earn God’s favor.

You naturally cling to substitutes for God – Scripture calls them idols.

You have an alternate medication plan for the hurts and lonliness and longings in your life.

 

And you are never going to give those up on your own.

You are not just holding onto them, they are holding onto you.

And all your goodness cannot change that.

 

We have asked what is the problem?

The problem is our sin – that is, our innate hatred of God and of His interference in our lives –

But it’s also our goodness – those things we do to earn God’s favor, those things we do to convince ourselves that we are good people and God should see us that way

 

2.  What is the remedy?

If the problem is both our sin and our goodness that prevents us from submitting to Him, then the remedy begins with repenting of both.

 

We need to repent of our goodness; repent of our righteousness b/c it is ultimately stealing joy from our lives.

We cannot truly enjoy the mercies of God when we’re holding onto our goodness instead.

 

Look at the scene when the young man leaves.

 

The disciples are stunned.

That guy was a pretty good guy!

If he can’t make it into heaven, who can?

I mean, until that guy showed up, I thought we were ok.

Good feelings gone.

 

And Jesus looks at them and sees that they are right where they need to be:

“You’re right.  It is impossible for man.

But it’s not impossible with God.

 

The young man’s fallacy was in the question, what good thing must I do to receive (earn) eternal life?

Oh, what must you do?  Be perfect.

Oh, I’m pretty good.  But I know I’m not perfect.

So how can I do that?

You can’t.

The correct question all along was actually, Dear God help me – because I am far from good, my goodness is garbage.  Can you in your mercy somehow grant me life with you anyway?

 

It’s no mistake that this passage follows one that describes exactly how to approach Jesus – like a child.

Not childishly – without forethought or reason; but with the trust, the utter lack of agenda, the lack of “what do I have to do to come enjoy you” prerequisite.

But eager to be with him, and trusting in his love and goodness.

 

Though young, he’s become too wise with how “the world” ought to work, with earning and merit, and rewards.  It’s the whole subject of the parable which follows, which we unfortunately don’t have time to explore this morning.

 

Then there’s Peter, looking for a little reassurance here [verse 27]

Missing the point a bit.

“If goodness is about leaving things – we’ve done that, right? So we’re ok?”

 

But the point all along was not about leaving something behind.

It was not about selling off everything.

It was really about part two of the statement: come follow me.

 

It’s not charity Jesus is after. 

It’s discipleship.

 

Peter, you’re here with me.  And that is enough.  Anything you have ever felt to be considered a sacrifice to be my disciple will be so worth it.

 

So if part one is to repent of the idols that bind our hearts and of our goodness we posture before God

Part two of the remedy is to pursue Jesus.

 

Paul had this figured out.

 

Php. 3 – He was just like this rich young man.  He had it all.

But all was rubbish compared to something so much more precious.

“..compared to the surpassing greatness of…”

What? – knowing Christ Jesus.

 

Why did Paul…[describe life]

Trying to undo his past transgressions?

Trying to ease his shame?

Trying to be a good Christian?

No He just wanted Jesus, and that’s where Jesus was.

 

Jesus must become your aim in life.

Then repentance is Christ.

Obedience is Christ

Going to work is Christ

Tending to your children is Christ

Your time in the classroom is Christ

 

3.  How do I get it?

With God’s mercy alone. 

It’s impossible - You will never want to do it by yourself.

You don’t want to let go of anything, and until you take it to Jesus, you can’t.

God has come, and he is so patient.

He is so forgiving.

He wants to wash your guilt away.

He wants to wash your shame away.

Your failures away.

 

Thomas Chalmers, an old Puritan Pastor and a godly man, wrote a sermon hundreds of years ago entitled, “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.”  What an awesome title.

 

I teach high schoolers, and one thing I witness on the fringe of their world is the capricious relationship drama as it unfolds day to day.

This guy is crazy about this girl…until that girl arrives on the scene.

Affection for girl 1 has been expelled by the affection for this new one.

The best way to get rid of any affection is to put your focus on a new one.

 

Let’s say I were to take a Styrofoam cup and fill it with water.

How can I get the water out of it?

I could drink it, pour it, poke a hole in the side, let it evaporate.

But in each of these methods, I am left with what?  An empty cup that’s just dying to be filled.

 

That’s what our hearts are like.

We try to change and work on our “goodness” by purging out the badness, but we typically find ourselves left empty.

 

What if I were to break open 10,000 thermometers and empty the mercury into a jar (don’t try this at home; it’s a highly carcinogenic experiment!)

Then I pour the mercury into my cup of water?

It’s called displacement:  The weighty substance simply pushes the water out, and I’m left with far more “dense” and substantial contents.

 

Jesus can be that mercury.  A renewed affection for Jesus – for He Himself can be an expulsive power that purges your heart of the insignificant pleasures that corrupt you.

Jesus Himself who brings you not just eternal life, but LIFE into your bones.

 

“But I don’t know if I’m even there” you say.  As I’m honest with myself, I don’t really want to.  Do you want to want to?  Jesus can meet you there too.

There is something significant in Mark’s account of this story:  After this man makes his final question, before Jesus delivers the disheartening “blow,” the Scripture says that “Christ looked on him, and He loved him”

How incredibly compassionate.

 

Do you want to want Jesus?  There’s faith in there – real faith.

And he works with that.  It’s a process.

A journey, but it’s a journey we need to be on.

It’s a journey that you may need to begin today.

 

And as you seek out HIM, you come to discover that your grip on other things – and the grip they have on you – is loosed.

Run to Him.  He is running to you….