Ticket To Heaven

~~~ Ezekiel 24:15-23 ~~~ (Psalm) Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20-21 ~~~
~~~ Matthew 19:16-22 ~~~

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.

Jesus says to this young man that he needs to do more
 than keep the commandments.

He wants to enter into heaven. He wants to do the right thing.
He is seeking advice from Jesus, personal advice.

Have you ever asked for someone's opinion
 and then been less than pleased with their response?
This is the situation this poor young man
found himself in the middle of;
He thought he was doing pretty well.
He was keeping the laws sent down from God.

To attain entrance into the Kingdom of heaven
requires more than just being 'good'.
Apparently material things make it more difficult
 if not impossible to get to heaven.
Why do material possessions become obstacles to get into heaven?

Material possessions take up time and space.
It is important that material things not interfere
 with your relationship with God.
This is what Jesus is implying;
as long as material things are at the top of your list.

Perhaps this young man was immature and dazzled
 by all that he had been able to acquire.

Clearly he was not prepared to comply with what Jesus prescribed.

We cannot ignore the poor while continuing
 to collect more and more things for ourselves.

The needs of the poor must be addressed.
Jesus makes this very clear on several occasions.

The things we consider to be earthly treasures will mean
 nothing in the kingdom of heaven.

Why do we struggle to release our things?
Why do we continue to acquire more even when we do not need it.
How many things are we keeping in our homes
that we no longer use, much less need?

I am as guilty of this as the next person.
Giving up of our things to the poor is acting in the manner of Jesus.

Jesus does not tell this man that he must become destitute.
Jesus does not tell the man that he must become homeless.
Jesus does not tell the man that he must give up everything.
Jesus does tell this man that he should consider
 how his possessions are keeping him from getting to heaven. 

The real treasure lies in heaven.
The real treasure cannot be seen, heard, or held.
The real treasure is getting through the pearly gates.
The real treasure will not fit into a suitcase, or a safety deposit box.
The real treasure is not held in the local bank vault.
The real treasure has more to do with
 our faith and trust in Jesus.

Following Jesus should not be the cause for us
 to turn and walk away in sadness.

Blessed to know that acquiring material things
are not our ticket to heaven.

~~~Peace~~~