He Failed the Test

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 the cross, and follow me. Mark 10:21.
Christ looked into the face of the young man, as if reading his life and searching his character. He loved him, and He hungered to give him that peace and grace and joy which would materially change his character….
With what earnest, anxious longing, what soul hunger, did the Saviour look at the young man, hoping that he would yield to the invitation of the Spirit of God! … The ruler was quick to discern all that Christ’s words involved, and he became sad…. To give up his earthly treasure, that was seen, for the heavenly treasure, that was unseen, was too great a risk. He refused the offer of eternal life, and went away, and ever after the world was to receive his worship.
Thousands are passing through this ordeal, weighing Christ against the world; and many choose the world. Like the young ruler, they turn from the Saviour, saying in their hearts, I will not have this Man as my leader…. All should consider what it means to desire heaven, and yet to turn away because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say “No” to Christ. The ruler said, No, I cannot give You all. Do we say the same? …
The ruler’s possessions were entrusted to him that he might prove himself a faithful steward; he was to dispense these goods for the blessing of those in need. So God now entrusts men with means, with talents and opportunities, that they may be His agents in helping the poor and the suffering. He who uses his entrusted gifts as God designs becomes a co-worker with the Saviour….
To those who, like the young ruler, are in high positions of trust and have great possessions, it may seem too great a sacrifice to give up all in order to follow Christ. But this is the rule of conduct for all who would become His disciples. Nothing short of obedience can be accepted. Self-surrender is the substance of the teachings of Christ.
Conflict and Courage p. 300
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Ron. He is feeling worse. The doctor did some blood testing and we should know the results later today. Rose
—–Prayers would be appreciated!! Meagan
—–Please pray for my daughter’s friend her name is Isabella she got a virus and cant breathe. Cristian
—–Please pray for my son’s friend’s mom. She is only 31 and in ICU with complications from lupus. She has five young kids. Sara
—–please pray for my friend David has been desperately looking for a job and has an interview @ 11. Sara
—–Please pray for my friend Paul who is going to court to fight eviction, David
—–A praise report. While traveling on a two lane highway in farm country, the side wall of my front drivers side tire failed. When I was finally able to pull onto a side road, I called my husband. I had a spare, but it needed air and the jack was missing. Two men in a white truck showed up. These guys had compressed air in their truck. They also had a hydraulic jack and a pneumatic drill. …[soon]we were ready to roll. Those guys were my angels. Thank you God. Praise His holy name. Shirley
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Dear Friends,
When I was in my late teens, I worked in a factory that made children’s clothing. The working conditions were terrible, but I was glad to have a job. Many people were out of work at that time. We got paid by how many garments we did. My mother worked there too and did much better than I because she was much faster.
One day our boss called a meeting for all employees. He had not done this before, so worry registered on each face. The boss stood upon a work table so all could see him. He told us that from that time on everyone had to work on Saturdays. No one was to be excused. That was not a problem for my mother, but it was a big problem for me. I knew I could not go to work on Saturdays with a clear conscience. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Ex 20:8 “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable, and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isa 58:13,14 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” 66:23
At that time unemployment rates were quite high and finding a job was not that easy. This thought pressed upon my mind, but I knew God could work things out. After praying, I went to Andy, the boss, and explained to him why I could not work on Sabbath. Andy told me that I was expected to be there anyway.
In His mercy, God raised up someone to help me. That someone was my own mother, who was very much against my religion. Even so, God moved upon her heart to help me. He gave her the words that Andy needed to hear. I did not lose my job. I was very thankful that God used my mother to help me. She was my “way of escape.” “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13
Our Dear Saviour tells us, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” This word “fulfill” in the Bible dictionary means to make full , fully preach, perfect, supply. And so He did. In His teaching, He fully preached not only an outward obedience, but an inward one as well. “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. . . . Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. . . . Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. . . . ” Matt 5:18-28
Often upon the Sabbath, our Great Creator taught by precept and example the correct way to keep His Holy Day. The Jewish leaders had placed so many restrictions upon that day that a person could not even carry a handkerchief when he had a cold. How ridiculous! Jesus did not follow their manmade restrictions, but He, Who created the Universe and everything therein, was standing before them declaring the proper way to keep the day He had instituted at creation. Not only did He go to church on that day, but He continued His acts of mercy. When confronted by the Pharisees, He told them, “the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” Matt 12:8
Our Loving Saviour pleads, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev 22:14
Let us keep all of His commandments, not to be saved, but because we love Him. Let us be faithful to Him in all that we do, in all that we say, in all that we think, that we may bring joy to His Great Heart of Love. May we soon hear Him say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt 25:23
Rose [for more information go to www.Sabbathtruth.org]