Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-22

away, and sad still over the thousands
that reject Him today. And why does
this interview end so differently from
the others7
1t was not that the SavIor's grace
and power were not all-sufficient for
him, as for all other sinners, nor that
the yearning of His mighty heart was
diminished. 1t is expressly declared
that Jesus loved him. 1t was not be
cause the young man was rich nor be-
cause he was ruler, for many OF
these classes were saved. And in ap-
pearanee, at least, he was eager, for
he came running" and there was the
attitude of humility, for he "kneeled
at Jesus feet" But alas he came as
so many come today, with no deep con
viction of sin but full OF seif-confi-
dence.
Teacher" he said, "what good
thing shall do that l may have eter-
nal lifef He has no doubt that some
good thing is needed, in the doing Of
which ne can earn eternal life. And
as so many are on that road. he thinks
Il must surely be the right one. 1t is
not to confess himself sinner, help
less and undone, that he comes, but to
ask what ne can do. Yes, men are
thronging that hopeless road. forget
ting that it is sinners for whom Christ
has died, that 1t is their sin that gives
them a claim upon Him, and that eter-
nal life is His gracious gift, not
thing to be earned or paid for.
Not only does he ask what he can
do, but boasts in what he has done.
"All these have / observed from my
youth" he replies to the Lords re-
cital OF the commandments. Honest
in this he was, no doubt. and, with
Saul Of Tarsus, he was touching the
Righteousness which is in the law,
blameless." And this he estimates as
establishing a claim upon God.
And we must not overlook one sig
nifieant clause in the text. He came
running and ''kneeled to Jesus In the
way What way? II was the way to
the cross, as verses 80 and SO of the
chapter declare He blocks the Lords
way to the cross, saying, in effect:
'You need not die for me, show me
what to do. / am quite sufficient IN
myself. l have no need for a Savior,
| can save myself and make myself
worthy of eternal life by the good
things I do"
AT first glance the Savior's answer
seems to be closing Of the door in
the face Of an honest seeker. "why
eallest thon me good? there Is none
good but one, that is God" God alone
can bestow eternal life. 1t Is not
gained by good deeds, but Is given
freely to those who accept Him in
whom It is. IF am not God why
ask me about eternal lIfef'
The Lord must meet him therefore
where he Is; not with the gospel Of
His grace, for he knows no need Of
grace. The law must do its work, for
by the law is the knowledge Of SIM"
And thus the Lord uses 1t, to give His
questioner what he did not possess,
the knowledge Of himself as sinner.
Thou knowest the commandments,r
He said. and quoting several of them,
ended with Thou shalt love thy neigh
Dor as myself" But If It is a matter
Of doing, all must be done. And when
the ruler declared that he had kept all
these, he was astounded at the an
swer: Zone 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-"
The cross 1t was the one thing he
would avoid
How could the God Of all grace
make that a condition of eternal life?
1t was what the law promised to those
who kept It: "the man that doeti-
these things shall live by them But
who ever did them or couldl If he
loved his neighbor as himself as, in
Matthews account, he declared he did,
why not give all that he had to the
poor7 Would It be any more than Civ
ing II back to himself Thus the Lord
is, with the law, searching out the
heart that does not know Itself. He is
not making law-keeping condition Of
eternal life, but showing the young
man how far short he comes of the
laws requirements in order to shut
him up to Himself as the only Savior.
And He does it with the tender assur-
ance that His heart is open to him and
ready to receive him. for Jesus, be-
holding him, loved him."
And though he went away grieved,
we may hope that that love brought
him back at length. not to seek some
good thing to do but to accept what
the cross had done fer him.