That’s me, trying with all my might to learn to play the piano. I remember well the ticking away of my metronome and trying so hard to keep pace to the tempo. But even with all my diligent efforts, those few short months of seemingly endless practice, my short, chubby fingers had a hard time keeping up. They just clumsily plunked away. Then with the move over 500 miles away to live with and to help my semi-invalid Grandma, there was no money for lessons, and I got swept away with my new world, new friends and a church. There were no thoughts of the piano.
My efforts were not enough to produce beautiful music. Perhaps, had I continued practicing I would have gotten better, who knows. However, I do know playing the piano didn’t come naturally, although a love of music did and still resides deep within my soul!
A young man came to JESUS and asked, “… what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Just as through diligent efforts I was trying to reach my goal, through his diligent efforts he was trying to earn eternal life. But it was not enough.
The man came asking, “What good work could he do to get eternal life.” He came depending on his own resources and efforts (dead works) to earn eternal life.
Knowing the heart of the man and what he treasured, JESUS said, “Keep the commandments.” The man replied, “I do.”
As we know, the 1st and greatest command is to love GOD with all your heart, and soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38). So, JESUS exposed, to the man his own heart. HE did not do it to show the young man up, but rather, JESUS loved the man and wanted him to repent (that is change his mind and depend on GOD not himself nor any other thing (Mark 10:21).
When JESUS told the man to sell what he had, give it away, and follow HIM, the man’s face fell, and he went away sad (Mark 10:17-22) for he loved and depended on his $ money more than GOD.
JESUS defines eternal life: “And this is eternal life, that they may know YOU, the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST whom YOU sent (John 17:3). Therefore, eternal life cannot be earned.
As we seek to know GOD the FATHER and our LORD JESUS CHRIST, we look to GOD alone, and trust HIM and not our self-efforts, to get eternal life.
“For GOD so loved the world that HE gave us HIS only Begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM (JESUS), shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). “For the wages of sin (we earn it) is death, but the gift (a gift is given, not earned) of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD” (Romans 6:23).
“As it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love HIM” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
All my efforts and practicing the piano didn’t produce beautiful music. In the same way, no amount of effort will get you eternal life. Only knowing GOD and HIS SON JESUS will do that.
Look unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of faith.
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 