What must I do to have eternal Life?

 Read Mark 10.

Jesus was teaching outside with the crowds and then privately with the twelve.  But as they leaving, walking toward Jericho, something unusual took place.  A wealthy young man ran to Jesus.  Though obviously a man of position in the community, he knelt before Him.

1. He showed a sense of desperation.
He had plenty of stuff, but something was missing on the inside.  He came because he knew Jesus to be a wise teacher.  The question that plagued him and caused him to cast aside his dignity in public was how a person may attain eternal life.  Everyone wants to know the answer.  Some have tried to ignore it.  Some have made up their own answer, as if they knew better than God.  But when a person reaches a point of desperation, they will listen.

He referred to Jesus as good and the response was that none are good but God (Romans 3:23).   Jesus was more than a wise teacher.  The first issue to address in answering the question is "This is not about what you do, but who I am."  Then, Jesus took on the second part of his question.  "Well, if you want to do something, did you try keeping the commandments?"

2. He lived a disciplined life.
The Scriptures were important to him.  He had done his best to perform all he knew to do.  However, it was not enough.  Something was still missing.  He sensed he was not right with God.

Jesus looked at him.  Jesus saw beyond the clothing, jewelry, and the success of this man.  Jesus loved him.  The man outwardly practiced all he had been taught to do.  Surely, his friends thought if anyone can make it, he can.  But Jesus saw the obstacle, the hindrance in his heart.  It was that one thing that blocked his having eternal life.  He had another god.

Matthew 6: 24-"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and money."

This rich young man wanted to keep his wealth as the god he worshiped and have eternal life.  But the LORD of heaven will not share His throne with anyone or anything.  The issue was not the money but the priorities of his heart.  Jesus knew that and called him on it.  Instead of recognizing God's ownership of all things and living his life as a faithful steward of God's stuff, he claimed ownership in God's place as a so-called self-made success.

3. He left a disheartened man.
As much as he seemed to desire eternal life and to be right with God, he could not bring himself to give up what he could not keep to gain what he could not lose.  Mr. Success walked away sorrowful.

Now the real teaching began.  If this guy cannot make it, "Who then can be saved?"  It is not possible on our own.  We have all tried and we can never be good enough.  It is only possible by forsaking all that hinders us from freely and fully receiving the unmerited favor of God through faith in Jesus.  It is not what we can do, but what He has done!  "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God," (John 1:12)