A very popular song on christian radio today states that we are free to be who God created us to be---when we allow Him to carry us. A very popular doctrine in christianity today is perfection. We are expected to be perfect. Jesus never put that on us--the church did. This is not a new thing. The same thing was going on in Christ' time. In fact that doctrine was one of the biggest obstacles to the Faith.
Mat. 19:16-21 tells a story of a rich young man. "Someone" came to Jesus one day and called him "Good" teacher, and asked him what he could do to have eternal life. As Jesus many times did, He asked him a question right back. "Why do you ask me about what is good?...Only God is good." Jesus went on to tell the man what he already knew from the teaching of the Law. If you obey the commandments put forth in the Law you will have eternal life. And the young man told Jesus that he had always kept the commandments, but being unsatisfied with that the young man wanted to do more so that he could be sure that he was doing everything he could possibly do to please God. Jesus answer did not give the man any peace at all. Jesus said this--"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all that you have and give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the man heard this he went away sad because he had many posessions and this little story is used to teach what follows.." it is very hard for a rich man..." The thing that strikes me is the question that Jesus first answered the man with.
Why do you ask me about what is good? Another gospel says that the man said to Him--Good Teacher. Jesus statement "only God is good" is where we need to be. The question allows Jesus to see where the man's heart is. If Jesus the only perfect man says only God is good, then we need to have our trust right there and nowhere else. Not in the Law and not in what we can do but only in God. The man's answer to the question was not about his possessions so much as about where he had put his belief or his faith. The man had put all his eggs in his own basket. The young man had put faith in himself and what he could do for God and not what God had done for him. That is the yeast of the pharisees. Pride in ones accomplishments is the yeast--the pride- the original sin.
Perfection is my enemy. This drive that religion places on its congregation is the number one reason that the church is not The Church--The Bride. There are many who are walking around with tremendous anointing to open blind eyes and set the captives free, but are believing the lie of satan that you cannot carry an anointing from God if you are not doing everything "right". Religion is the #1 enemy of The Church. Another use that satan has for perfection is deceit. The young man had gained great pride for his accomplishment of the Law. He had put all his effort into doing and forgot that he was just a being, not The Creator. "should the pot tell the Potter...?
Right now in this time--we need to know what our Good God has done for us and remember that Jesus did not even allow this rich young man to put the tag of Good on Him, but only turned the young man's eyes from himself and this earthly realm to the Creator of the universe---Our Father.---Be Blessed----c
I missed this one earlier - maybe because I was too busy to hear the message 'til today. Powerful Charles - VERY powerful. Thank you.
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