What Is Your Desire
Matthew 19:16-22 NKJV
[16] Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” [17] So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” [18] He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ [19] ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” [20] The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” [21] Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” [22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Oh, the Rich young ruler!
There is a price to be paid if we truly desire to follow Jesus.
It is not just about the things this young man had.
There is a price if we desire to be perfect like Jesus!
It is a price that isn’t often spoken about.
Sometimes it’s too much to bear.
Sometimes there is so much anguish that people will turn from the Faith.
There is a price to be set apart for the use of the Kingdom of Heaven.
We are all defined by someone or something.
Ask any Christian who defines them.
Many will have the quick response of Jesus Christ.
But look into their eyes.
There is a certain joy that is undeniable.
There is dependency.
You will also see the hardships of overcoming.
Every Saint of God has gone through the Darkness of the Soul.
Every professor of Jesus as Savior has had time in loneliness and isolation.
Some of the Greatest people used by God have been isolated and lonely.
On the outside it can look and seem like we are doing all the right things, and we may be.
But there is a vacancy shrouded in an outward appearance that could seem as all is fine.
Jesus gives him simple instruction
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
What is our true heart’s desire?
Why do we want to make a lifelong commitment to the King of Glory?
Is it to serve yourself, your fellow man or God!
The Word of God is full of exchanges.
It’s the giving up of something to gain something else.
Pride for humility.
Sin for Righteousness.
Riches of this World for the riches of Heaven!
If.
Jesus says If you want to be perfect.
Perfection is only available through His Sacrifice on the Cross.
Through His shed Blood Eternity awaits for us with a Perfect Glorified Body that can withstand the Glory of God and His Heaven!
But there is a price.
Yes, it’s giving up of ourselves.
Yes, it is to repent, believe and follow.
Then there is the command to go and tell the next desperate soul of the Treasures that have been found.
Jesus has a way to look deep into our souls. He can diagnose with one Word what we lack!
Jesus could see into the soul of this man into his very heart.
What did He see?
A divided heart.
I encourage you to step back and ask the Lord what you lack.
This might be one of the hardest things to come to the Throne of God and ask.
But if we truly desire His Heart and His Holy Will then we must ask the hard question.
Sometimes we have to confront ourselves. We have to do heart checks. We have to examine our lives and our walks.
We MUST renew our minds to be more like Christ!
This is essential to fortify our dependence on Jesus.
Most times the truth hurts short term.
But the long term benefits totally outweigh any loss of comfort while being honest and open with your God!
I pray this often.
“Holy Spirit, I ask that You purge my heart of anything that is not of You. And I ask that you fill those gaps to make me whole”.
He restores what has been given up for the sake of Righteousness.
He will rebuild what we allow Him to tear down!
What could have the Lord been able to do through the Rich young ruler if he could have examined what was truly important.
The New Year is upon us.
Examine, confront, admit and ask the Lord what is it in you that needs to be changed!
Not for your benefit, but for His benefit.
Take this time to truly commit your life to be a Holy one.
It may mean times of isolation and loneliness. You’ll have to give up on things of the world. It may be difficult to submit. You might not be willing because we like the comfort.
You might fail.
But sometimes failing and falling is a good thing.
Being face down forces us to look up to depend on the only One that can lift you up and see you through!
What is your desire!
What is in your heart that you want to be strengthened!
The truth hurts short term.
But the long term benefits totally outweigh any loss of comfort while being honest and open with your God!
Be honest with your Lord!
Allow Him to purge and restore.
Seek First the Kingdom.
Store Treasures in Heaven and commit to Follow Him!
Pastor Ed
