Devotional

There was a very wealthy young man who had the world by the tail. He had money, power, and station in life. In the worlds view he had everyone's dream but still did not have real peace and the absolute confidence he was on his way to heaven.

Peace is a wonderful thing and most people don't have it. Some people think they have it but when something comes into their lives that throws them for a loop, their peace is gone. They really never had it. Real peace doesn't come from a feeling or a thought out plan and you don’t inherit from anyone else.

And Heaven: There is an old song entitled "Everyone Wants To Go To Heaven But Nobody Wants To Die." Sometimes people think of heaven, maybe at funerals or when we get close to death, or when we go to church and the preacher is describing that beautiful real place reserved for God's children. There are times God will actually knock on our heart and draw you near to Him and point you in the right direction to get into Heaven. Often He gives us chances to change, and sends people into our lives to help us.

This rich young ruler had it all except for that peace that only comes through the power of God. Someone had to love him enough to tell him about Jesus. The person most likely knew this man was lacking something and that thing was a relationship with God. Money, power, looks, jobs; the things that will not last and they will only satisfy us for a short time. That is why this young man was looking for something else. What are you looking for? Are you happy, full of peace? Do you know for sure you are on your way to heaven? We just need to come to Him as we are.

This young ruler was so hopeful that he sought out Jesus and he found Him. If you are looking for God, there is a promise in God's Word that you will find Him. The young man ran up to Jesus and asked Him: "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus basically said, you need to keep the 10 commandments. Then the young man interrupted Jesus and said I have done this sense my youth! Then the Bible says that Jesus looking at him and loving him said, " 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 the cross, and follow me." Mark 10:21

The young man asked the question everyone asks. How do I get to heaven? Some people think if you keep the 10 commandments you have it made in the shade. Some think if I go to church or belong to a good denomination or if they were born in a godly family or your mother or father is in the ministry or if you have money in the bank or if you gave money to the poor and if you live in a Christian country so doesn't that make you a Christian? It's not what you own; it's whom you know. The rich young ruler came to the right person to ask the question. Jesus basically said, the 10 commandments are not enough. It's not enough to be good and besides we are human and we will break one of the commandments sooner or later. We are not perfect and would have to be to get to heaven on our own. Romans 3:23 says: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We are all sinners. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 " For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The young mans response was very sad, he came running to Jesus out of breath excited thinking he knew the answer, then Jesus loving him told him the truth but the young man went away sad because he was not willing to give up his riches to find perfect peace in Jesus. Read the entire story for yourself in the Bible. Mark 10:17-31

Some people have their own gods and they rule their life. It could be many things like money, fame, fortune, addictions, pride, unforgiveness, bitterness, resentfulness, anger, materialism, and many more. The rich young ruler was controlled by his wealth. There is nothing wrong with money, we are to control the money, and the money is not to control us. There are many things that come in the way of people and God. What is the reason you have never given your heart to Jesus? It is your decision if those things will be removed or not. John 14:6 says, "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." He is the only way to get into Heaven.

Real peace comes from knowing Jesus as your personal Savior. Someone told the rich young ruler about Jesus and the rest was up to him. He chose not to believe and went away very sad. What about you? There is no mistake why you are reading this today. I love you enough to tell you about Jesus. God has a wonderful plan for your life and that includes being happy and knowing you are on your way to heaven for sure. 2 Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering (patient) towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." God is more willing to forgive than He is to judge. God in the flesh came down to earth as Jesus to die on the cross and shed His blood for the remission of your sins. Jesus was buried in a tomb for three days then rose from the grave to defeat death!! When we accept Jesus as our Savoir then we too defeat death as Jesus did. As Christians when we die we go to heaven forever. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." And John 3:17 says " For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Jesus loves you just the way you are; give Him a chance to change your life for the better. Remember, He is more eager to forgive than to judge.

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Why not accept Him as your Savoir and Friend for life. You will always be able to count on Him; He will never leave us nor forsake us.

How do you ask Him into your life? Say this simple prayer from the center of your heart. Dear Jesus, Please forgive me of my sin, I repent of my sin and ask you to come into my life to be my Savoir and Lord. Thank you for coming into my life as my Savoir and Friend. 1 John 5:11,12 says "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

If you have accepted Christ as your Savoir, you're in! You are on your way to heaven! You have eternal life in Jesus Christ. If you have not yet made that commitment, I pray you won't wait to long to do just that. I will continue to pray that the Spirit of God will draw you to Him and that you will know Him soon and experience that perfect peace that only comes from that personal relationship with God, through Jesus, with the power of the Holy Spirit. The rich young ruler went away very sad, today you can be different and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Saves. Accept Him Now.

God loves you and so do we!

e-mail us and let us know if we can help and yes please write us and tell us if you accepted Jesus today because we have a Bible and a free ministry tape we would love to send you.

Love in Jesus, Herb Taylor