FROM THE PULPIT: ALMOST PERSUADED

Christ had been on a tour of the country side; teaching, preaching and healing. When he returned to Jerusalem He was confronted by all sorts of people with all sorts of questions.

The priests and elders asked Him about His authority, the Pharisees and Herodians asked about paying tribute to Caesar, and the Sadducees asked about the resurrection.

He answered them all as discreetly as possible. Read all of Mark 12 to place it in context. Next, a lawyer came with a question. It is this question which we will deal with in this article---"Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

First, he was interested in salvation. His very question in Luke 10:25, lets us know he is interested in where he would spend eternity.

This very question comes at some point in life of every person. It is the most trying, soul-searching question anyone will ever face.

The sooner you are confronted with this question, the better it is for you. No one will ever make the right choice about salvation on their own.

God's word tells us, "It is not in man to do good..." It is the power of the Holy Spirit which must draw a man to face this question.

The Holy Spirit challenges the soul of man to a response to this question. The soul's response to this question will determine where the soul will spend eternity.

Secondly, this man was well informed about the meaning of the law: "Thou hast answered right"--Luke 10:28. A person may have an intellectual knowledge of the grace of God in the matter of salvation, and still die in his sins.

This will result in eternal lostness because of refusing to accept God's plan of salvation. This record is very clear in Mark Gospel 12:32-33. Simply to "KNOW" of the Grace of God is not sufficient.

Thirdly, this man, like all of us, was included in the message of the Lord: "This do and thou shalt live." All people are included in God's love and His plan of salvation. However, the individual soul must respond to God's love and accept His plan before he can lay claim to salvation.

Anyone who loves the Lord supremely will accept honor Him with a life devoted to Him as "Lord." One will find that the problems encountered in life are answered fully by a life lived in love for Him.

Fourth, this man invited to magnify the Lord and His work. Jesus mentioned the need to love your neighbor. This man sought to justify himself by asking who his neighbor was.

His ignorance of who his neighbor was could not justify him. Jesus gave him the answer in the parable of our text and told him to "...do likewise."

Fifth, this man was indifferent to the measure of love by the standards of God. Though he was interested, and though he had understanding, there is no record of him ever being saved.

He heard the words but would not accept. He knew the way to eternal life, but would not walk to it. He knew about the love of God, but would not respond to it. He was near the Kingdom, but nearness does not save.

"Almost Persuaded" is not enough--a decision for Christ must be made. He went away simply because he would not follow Christ. Dear readers, I plead with you not to make this mistake.