- - - - - - - Outline Life’ s Greatest ChoiceMat_19:16; Mark 10:17-24; Luke 18:18 Introduction: 1. Jesus into the country / blessed the children 2. A man runs up and asks a question. a. Mark 10:173. A most startling answer “ one thing you need” a. Ever make a cake & left out one needed thing 4. Notice 7 or 8 impressive things-- 3 obvious; /subtle 1. HE HAD YOUTH... Matthew 19:201. Thought if we had these 3 things we would be happy. 2. These 3 are important, I don’ t pretend not. 3. A woman saw child crawl thru window; had youth 2. HE HAD -- Luke 18:181. A ruler; authority; commanded people 2. Power, position, & authority. Coveted today 3. HE HAD MONEY--1. Probably least impt, but he didn’ t know it. a. Impt., could buy fine tgs. b. "Money won't make you happy, but it will you a choice of misery." 2. According to standards of this age, very fortunate 3. Other characterists not as obvious. a. He seems to have a very attractive personality 4. HE HAD KIND -- 1. Met Jesus w/ “ Good Teacher” .. a thoughtful discerning, young man a. Many in that day saw Jesus as trouble-making peasant b. Ready to write Jesus off no value, this man looked, listened 2. “ Good Teacher” revealing his discernment or understanding. 5. HE HAD COURAGE--1. He had a considerable degree of courage a. He came publically when his class opposed Jesus b. Most rulers believed Jesus was upsetting apple cart, conspired against him c. Yet, publicly, openly he comes greeting Jesus 6 HE HAD He came running. He won't to miss him, or be left behind. Eager to ask this important question of Jesus. Sincere. 7. HE HAD --1. He came, knelt down publicly. (not normal greeting) a. Never would a ruler bow to peasant. Nowhere-- b. Would be out of place - England 2. Because humble he realized here was Someone who had something he needed, he acknowledged this before Ch. a. An attractive, winsome personality, we admire him. 8. HE HAD A CLEAN RECORD--1. ... and this is remarkable. a. Young people today seem eager to describe all their involvements in marijuana, cocaine, drugs and sexual escapades b. Some good Christian young people have though to themselves, “ You know, it seems like everybody is doing it... “ I wonder if I’ m old fashion... keeping clean record c. Have you thought that, young people? 2. I’ ve had adults say “ I really regret some things I did as young person a. “ I would have been so much better if not thrown morals to wind b. NEVER heard one regret a clean moral life... c. NO, young man, young lady, better to have clean record... 3. Jesus flashed six of ten commandmends a. His reply “ Lord, I have kept them ... b. Someone says, “ I think he lied...” No, no deception c. Can understand why Jesus loved him... d. This young man telling truth, a loveable personality 9. HE HAD A HUNGER FOR LIFE --1. ... an honest hunger for life. a. “ Good ...I do to inherit eternal life?” 2. Need to be careful that we understand what he asked. a. Even ruling sadducees talked about eternal life b. Life at its fullest-- “ abundant life” a life that satisfies c He was looking for a satisfying life-- John 10:103. Indicates the man was conscious someting lacking a. His youth not satisfying-- position, -- wealth His clean record - b. His discernemnt could not penetrate the mystery of life and find the secred he was looking for. c. His courage insufficient, d. He desperately wanted to find that which would satisfy his soul-- 4. He realized there was more to life than the flesh. 5. In a class with high school boys, only 3 or 4 present a. Fell to talking @ sm tgs impt to them, FEAR. b. Mentioned “ fear of death” .. “ I’ m not afraid of dying...” c. Some have said that but were terrifed. Here is their truth. d. “ I’ m afraid I’ m going to waste my life.” e. He expressed what many young people feel-- 1) a hunger for life, desire to really live, 2) to find something worth giving self to 3) something that will lay hold of them... 4) make them feel complete & satisfied.. 6. Jesus said, “ You lack one thing.” a. What? Poverty!, Had too much money! Needed to get rid of it. b. We've missed the point. c. If poverty is needed, this has no application to us. 7. The Lord did say, “ Go and sell what you have..." a. His wealth was an obstacle because it stood between this young man and what he really needed in life-- b. What he needed is revealed in last words “ Come follow me." 8. What the young man lacked...was a leader, a king, master a. He was his own authority, boss. no accounting, 9. Proof is in Jesus opening words to him “ Why call me ..." a. What was Jesus saying... Think .. young man. b. Jesus. never made a misteake, repented, say sorry c. 1 John 3:5 “ In Him there is no sin” d. 1 Peter 2:22 “ did not sin, neither guide..lips” 10. Jesus saying, “ There is One who can satisfy, give eternal ife, follow him.. 11. A young men with clean record, humble heart, needs the Lord 12. We read, “ At that saying, his countence...:" Mark 10:22 a. We tend to cut him off from heaven bec he walked b. There is a hopeful word in passage, “ sorrowful” c. “ For godly sorrow woreth repentance unto salvation” 2 Corinthians 7:10 d. Maybe he sorrowed, repented and came back. 13. This young man stood face-toface with opportunity to live as God intended a. It cost a lot... “ sorrowful... he had great possession.” b. You say, “ men don’ t go away sorrowful because of possessions !!” 1) If someone announced to you, you've wond the sweepstakes and $1 mill would you be sorrowful? 2) But if Christ told you what could be yours if you abandoned your possesion and you’ ld didn’ t... : 1. Believe one of two things eventually happened... a. Went back to his luxury.. said, I can’ t stand it anymore, it is all empty, b. Called his stewart, “ add it all up, give it to the poor orphans and widows... I'm going to follow Jesus" 2. Or, he woke up next morning... a. What a fool I made of myself yesterday... 1) bowing down to peasant 2) how naieve of me b. Over years, he becomes more worldly & selfish, and ruins a good start in life. c. He becomes a hardened, a man of the world. character 3. He once stood face-to-face with life's greatest choice, life's greatest possibility and said NO 4. What are we saying to you .. young man, woman! a. You have good personality... friends like you.. b. You have a clean record... never shamed your parents.. c. You have possiblities... 1) fame & fortune in this world 2) power and position may be yours c. But these are not what will satisfy, they never can... 5. One thing you need--... a. You need someone to follow -- a KING, MASTER b. If you surrender life to him, you receive c. Like David (1 Samuel 17) you need a cause greater than life... 6. What are you going to say to him who would be Master and Leader in your life? a. I don’ t know what he saying to you-- what you may need to surrender ... b. Don’ t know what obstacles you have-- c. But you must get rid of it--- d. Ask yourself, “ What stands between me and God?" 7. The glorious things, the younger you are when you hear Jesus' voice, -- the less you have to get rid of. Ecclesiastes 12:1 a. If young enough, hardly a chore at all-- b. It doesn’ t hurt like it did this young man-- c. Leading a sinful life makes ruts so deep it is hard in life to get out of. 8. I was 15 when I came to Christ-- left all-- happy- a. The Lord has kept his promise-- 9. What about you? Do you hear his voice? a. Are you ready to say yes to him? b. Will you yield to your King. c. Give yourself in obedience, come... d. Come in faith, repentance e. And be baptized for remission of sins.- - - - - - Full Sermon But I know this. The Lord is dealing with some here---young men, young women, older men, older women. He is saying to you, "You have a good personality. Your friends like you. They enjoy you. You have a clean record. You have never done anything greatly out of line. You have never shamed your parents or yourself. You have the possibilities of fame and fortune, of power and position, within you, but these things will never satisfy you. One thing you lack. You need someone to follow after, you need a King. You need an Authority. You need a God to whom you can give yourself, who will master you, possess you. You can never properly exercise authority unless you are under authority, first. If you surrender yourself to him, your life can achieve its fullest-- you will find abundant life-- life here-- and in the world to come-- eternal life. What are you saying to Him who would be Master and Leader in your life? I don’ t know what he is saying to you-- that is-- what he is saying that you have to get rid of - - - But He is saying that what ever stands between you and Him being the Lord and Leader of your life you have to get rid of it -- surrender it-- give it away-- He may be saying to some of you, "First, go and sell what you have." I don't know. Only you know what he is saying. You must ask yourself, "What stands between me and Christ? Whatever it is, get rid of it. Sweep it away. Cut it off. Is it your right hand? Cut it off. Is it your right eye? Pluck it out. Get rid of it. It is too costly. It will keep you from the most important thing in your life. Get rid of it. But above all, come and follow him. The glorious thing is-- that the younger you hear this voice of Jesus saying, "Come and follow me,"-- the less you have to get rid of. If you do it young enough it is hardly a chore at all. It isn't painful then. It doesn't hurt like this young man felt it hurting. If you come when you are young, you can say, "Lord, here I am. I don't have much to leave, but what I had is gone. I have left whatever there is, and I have come to you." I was fifteen years old when I came to Christ, just a boy, in a meeting in Flat Rock, Michigan. I didn't have much to leave, but what it was, I left, and came to Christ. The next several months were one of the happiest times of my boyhood. I can remember well the fellowship and closeness I had with the Lord. Now I can look back across the years and say that he has done what he promised. He has fulfilled my life, he has realized my life. He has given me abundant life here and eternal life to come. What about some of you? Do you hear his voice today? Are you ready to say yes to him? Will you yield to your King? Will you own your God and follow your King wherever he wants to lead you--- this most exciting, this most magnetic, most compelling Person who ever lived? Will you give yourself in obedience and follow him? Follow his commands to come in faith and repentance-- And be baptized into His name for the remission of your sins.