“Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing…” (Luke 18:22).
TEXT — Luke 18:18-30
Automobile manufacturers regularly recall their products when they discover some parts are defective and these might malfunction and cause tragedies to motorists and the public. Sometimes, it is a case of a missing component in the alignment of the vehicle. The assembly plants go to great lengths to get back the vehicles to their factories to correct the fault and ensure the autos are safe for use again. Official government and industry regulators are always on hand to oversee the process of putting in the missing link. Until then, the vehicle would remain useless, regardless of all the other magnificent features.
The rich ruler who accosted our Lord appeared to have everything going well for him. He was rich; he was young, looking forward to a promising future; he knew the Law of Moses; and on the spiritual side, he desired to “inherit eternal life.” Unlike others of his age and status whose hope was probably rooted in the world, he had the heart to serve God. Despite these intimidating qualifications, the most critical was missing. He so loved his worldly riches that he would not sacrifice them for the heaven he wanted to make. Sacrificial service for his golden desire was lacking in his life. He was unwilling to pay the price for what he sought.
Being a disciple of the Lord, our journey to heaven comes with a price. The world with all its allurements must be completely forsaken. Nothing of it must have a tenacious hold on us as we receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. We must be ready to drop our passions, possessions, position, talents, treasures and time for the service of heaven we earnestly crave. We must be willing to share our goods with the poor and the needy, especially those in the household of faith.
Pilgrims who profess identification with heaven ought to constantly examine themselves to find out if they have not incurred the loss of their first love of total consecration, commitment and Christian conviction. They should be watchful so their case would not be like that of the man who was thrown out into “outer darkness” because he did not put on his wedding garment, which was the symbolical admission requirement to heaven.
Thought for the day
Watch out, lest you neglect to procure the real ticket for Heaven.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
