What Stands Between You and the Free Gift?
Eternal life is a free gift. Okay, that’s clear. But to whom is it given? According to the word of God it is available for all who overcome everything that is set against the freedom to drink of the water of life.
And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall by My son.” Rev. 21:6,7
Now some people would think you were a heretic if you said that one had to actually do something to gain eternal life. But it’s true, there are obstacles that stand in the way of the free gift the Father offers all who trust in His Son.. Oh yes, there’s that word:trust. The rich young ruler was one who could not overcome the obstacles that kept him from inheriting eternal life. He would not trust Jesus/Yahshua.
“One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up thy cross, and follow me. But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:21-22
But the rich young ruler’s trust was in his riches: Then Jesus (Yahshua) looked around and to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God?” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:23-24
So, what Yahshua said inverse 25 was the case for him:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:25
In order for the rich young ruler to overcome the obstacle that stood between him and eternal life, he had to do what Yahshua commanded him to do. The disciples understood that this was foundational for all those who would follow Him, not just for this particular man, as some say. So they asked, “Who then can be saved?” Yahshua went on to tell them the certain good news, which applies to all who wish to receive the free gift of salvation.
So each one must overcome the obstacles, which stand in the way of faith, which grants trust (or belief); and trusting Him completely will motivate us to obey all His commandments. So we see from the example of the rich young ruler that eternal life is only given to those who overcome whatever would stand in the way of drinking freely from the water of life.
The Obstacles
Yahshua saw and understood the obstacles that would keep someone from coming to Him to receive the free gift of eternal life. He outlined these things extensively in the gospels, such as:
· Possessions
· Family
· Your own life
In Revelation 21 it goes on to talk about how those who do not overcome these obstacles are the worst kind of criminal, deserving the second death.
“But for the cowardly and the unbelieving
And abominable
And murderers
And immoral persons
And sorcerers and idolaters
And all liars,
Their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Rev. 21:8
First in the list of the worst criminals of humanity in Rev. 21:8 is the cowardly and unbelieving, those who have the privilege of hearing from someone sent from the Father exactly what they must do in order to receive the water of life, and yet they shrink back from trusting and believing. The rich young ruler turned out to be a coward and disbelieved the son of God. He may not have been like the rest of the criminals in the list of Rev. 21:8, but he became the worst of them all.
What Yahshua had to say about Family:
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Matthew 10:37
“And Jesus (Yahshua) answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters. Or father or mother or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26
What Yahshua had to say about Possessions:
“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. Mark 10:21
And He said to them, Luke 12:15-21,33,34. (V.15) “ Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.
(v.16)And He spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (v.17)And He thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? (v. 18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. (v.19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry. (v. 20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (v.21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.,
(v.33) Sell that ye have and give alms, provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth
(v.34) For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
What Yahshua had to say about
“Your Own Life”
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)
“He that loveth his live shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” ( John 12:25)
“ And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)
Note: “Cross” def. in the Strong’s concordance is # 4716 (Greek dictionary ) stauros: … fig. self-denial...