The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-01-29

you the way to eternal life. l am In
clined to think that this young man had
repeatedly asked this question of those
older and wiser than he, and perhaps he
had obtained answers, but they did not
satisfy his soul. He must see Jesus and
hear from His lips the answer. And
you, dear friend, must seek Jesus and let
Him tell you the answer to this supreme
question which troubles every heart.
y EHOLDING this splendid young
n man before Him, no trace of evil
in his glowing face, no insincerity in
his honest eyes, Jesus looks lovingly
down upon him, but He dares to tell him
the truth. This is what God always does
to the soul, and the young man knew
Jesus told him the truth. The very fact
that he answered not a word, but went
away from Jesus presence sad and deep
ly grieved, is proof that he recognized in
Jesus words the voice of God to his soul,
and if he were not willing to yield obedi-
ence to His commands, he could not in
herit eternal life. Jesus said TO that dear,
noble young man, who had succeeded in
living such a splendid life: ''One thing
thou lackest." So near to God and
eternal life that he lacked but one thing.
And that is the nearest that the moralist
can ever get to God and Heaven and
eternal life. The moralist needs the
grace and mercy of God to give him
eternal life as much as the deepest-dyed
sinner. "One thing thou lackest, is
what God says to every soul who has not
surrendered to Him his dearest treasure
and come and followed Jesus. The lack
of that one thing in that young mans life
was enough to blast his hopes of eternal
life. Clinging to his riches and turning
his back on Christ, he was absolutely
without hope for the life to come. All
that that young man had, all that he was
in character, could not secure for him
place in Heaven. One thing he lacked,
andthat was absolute subjection and sur
render to God. And as the refusal of
that obedience vitiated all his other acts
of obedience. so it convicted him of un-
righteousness and rebellion before God.
He preferred his riches and his position
in life to Christ and His service. And
how is it with you, dear friend, to whom
has come this supreme question? You
know you never yet have found its an
swer in your own splendid life, in your
own deeds. Gods answer to your heart
is ever the same as it was to that splendid
moralist of old. "One thing thou lack
est" 1t is the Christ.
~ II ND he was sad at that saying, and
n went away grieved; for he had
great possessions. No sadder tragedy
is witnessed in Heaven or earth than
when the soul comes face to face with
the supreme question of eternal life and
then refuses to abide by the answer
which God gives. That young man was
concerned about his souls welfare, but
not enough so as to obey the conditions
which God laid down. He was sad with
that sadness which comes from rejection
of Gods claims. 1t was the first faint
pang of that eternal sadness and anguish
which his soul was to feel as it passed
from life here to eternal death beyond
the grave. Unless that young man re-
pented of his choice made that day and
later surrendered all to God and followed
Jesus, we know that he did not inherit
eternal life, know that through all the
centuries which have passed since his
soul passed into the great beyond, it
has been shut out from the presence Of
God and the joy and peace of Heaven
What folly he displayed that day. Cling
ing to his riches for few short years
and then Deaths cold hand rObbing him
of all that he possessed and sending him
naked and without hope into the next
world. Went away sad and grieved and
without hope, when he might have gone
away with a new joy in his heart, and
eternal life as his rich possession.
HNNE thing thou lackest" Those
are blessed words, for they tell to
the soul that that which is lacking God
wants to supply. One thing that dear
young man lacked, and Jesus longed to
supply that lack. His hands were full
with the burden of riches. Jesus says
empty them of those perishable baubles
that | may fill them with the treasures
which are eternal. 1t is as though q.
beggar were to come into the presence
of the rich man with his hands filled with
pretty pebbles picked from the beach.
The rich man holds out sparkling gems
in exchange for the cheap, common peb-
bles. The beggar wants the gems but he
will not give up his pebbles. What folly!
Throw away the pebbles and make
room for the glittering diamonds" we
cry. But l would lose that which I
spent much time in gathering. That
which is pretty. That which 1 want" "
But" we exclaim. with impatienee at
such blind and inexplicable folly, Sup
pose you do lose them, see what you are
to get in return" And is it any less folly
for the soul to come into the presence OF
Jesus and refuse to yield the perishable
things of this life in order that it may
receive that which it lacks of the riches
and fullness of God? "One thing thou
lackest," oh, soul, If you have not the
Christ, and that lack robs you in this life
and in the life to come. Are you going
away surrowful from the presence of the
Christ? You need not. AS you are con-
scious, even as was that young man, that
high moral integrity, and a life filled
with good works cannot save you come
to Jesus and let Him supply the lack
which is in your life and heart. Oh, how
Jesus yearns over you and longs to make
your life complete and give you hope for
the life to come! 1t may not be riches
which are standing in your way of saliva
tion. 1t may be proud heart which you
are not willing to yield to Him. 1t may
be a friendship or love which you are not
willing to give up if He should ask you so
to do. 1t is something. And while you