Nearly Saved, but Lost

One day, a chief asked Jesus, "Good teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?" Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. You know the commandments - Don't commit adultery, don't kill, don't steal, don't bear false witness, honor your father and your mother." The young chief said, "I've observed all these commandments since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "One thing you lack - go, sell all that you have, give the revenue to the poor and you'll have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow Me." When the man heard this, he was very sad, for he was very rich and he left. He loved his riches more than God.

Following this, Jesus said to His disciples, "Oh, it is difficult for a rich man to enter into God's kingdom," because they who trust in their riches cannot go there. Why not? For them, their God is money and they think that with money they can do anything. But they forget that their soul cannot be bought with money. David, the man of God, has already written in Psalm 49 : "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him; that he should still live forever, and not see corruption. For he seeth the wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names."

It is not with silver or with gold that a man can be saved, but with the precious blood of Jesus, who died on the cross for all men. Jesus also said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, if he loses his soul?" Be wise, my friends; the things of God, His salvation, and His pardon in Jesus, are much more important than any other thing in the world. Take care of your soul. Seek salvation. It can be found in Jesus.

Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, said to Jesus, "Look, we've left everything, our boat, our nets, our parents, and our friends, and we've followed You. What are you going to give us in return?" Jesus said, "He who leaves his house, his brothers and his sisters or his father or his mother or his children or his lands, because of Me and the good news, will receive one hundred times more, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, lands, with persecutions; and in the future, eternal life." Jesus also said to be concerned first of all with the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything - food, clothes, everything that is necessary for your life on earth - will be given to you in addition. It is God who looks after His children, and after death, He receives them in heaven.

The rich young man was almost saved, because he only lacked one thing. He had done many good things, but the most important he wouldn't accept. It was too hard for him. That thing was to abandon everything and follow Jesus. Because he refused, he sadly left Jesus. He who accepts Jesus follows a joyful pathway, because the joy of heaven fills his heart, but he who refuses Jesus has only the false joys of the world that don't give real joy and peace. The sadness of the world is eternal sadness. Hell is waiting for them. The young man was almost saved, but eternally lost. That which a man does with Jesus decides his future - salvation or hell. If one is almost saved, he is entirely lost - just like a man who has an operation that is almost a success, but the man dies. A student almost passes his examination, but he fails completely. Jesus offers you a perfect salvation - accept it!

He who sincerely seeks salvation in Jesus, will obtain it because God doesn't want the sinner to die, but to repent of his sins that he might live. He will listen if you talk to Him. He will answer your prayer. Put your trust in Jesus, and follow Him with your whole heart.

Ref: Matt 19:16-22 (Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-23); Ps 49: 7-11; 1 Pet 1:18, 19; Mark 8: 36;
Mark 10: 28-30; Matt 6:33; 2 Pet 3:9