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Recently while reading in Luke I encountered a verse that stunned me. It's not the first time I've read the verse, but the first time I've noticed the seriousness of the command.
Luke 18:16-17
16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
If we don't receive the kingdom like a child, we don't get the kingdom! There is a right way to receive the kingdom that gives us access and a wrong way that shuts us out. The consequences are dire, and we must understand what receiving the kingdom like a child means.
The short answer we always here is "childlike faith". But what does than term mean? For a picture of "adult-like faith" or maybe "adult-like lack of faith" look just a few verses later where Jesus is talking to the rich young ruler.
Luke 18:18-24
And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
In verse 18 the rich young ruler asks "What must I do to inherit eternal life" He is asking, "What must I do to receive the kingdom?" Jesus says, you know the what to do, keep the commandments. The ruler then begins to list all the rules he has kept. Then Jesus responds with the horrific words "One thing you still lack". What is the thing that he lacks? The receiving of the kingdom as a child! To receive the kingdom as a child is to "Trust" in the right things. The rich young ruler trusted in his riches to satisfy his needs and he trusted in his deeds as a measurement of his goodness.
If you would receive the kingdom as a child, you dare not trust in anything other than Christ. If we trust in our own righteousness, power or possessions we perish. If we trust in Christ's righteousness to atone for our sins and the power of His beauty to satisfy our hearts we receive the kingdom of God.
When tempted to sin one must always consider the consequences, but do we often consider the low pleasure yield sin offers in comparison to God himself? First look at Hebrews 11:24-25.
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Sin at its best offers pleasure of a fleeting duration.
Now consider Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
God offers pleasure and joy that is complete and forever. The next time you are tempted to sin, remember not only that it is wrong, but it is inferior to what God offers. When we obey more out of delight than duty, God is shown to be more glorious. The pleasure of sin in comparison to the pleasure to be had in God is like comparing a thimble of water to all the oceans of the world. Which would you rather have?
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 is one of the most stunningly hedonistic versus in all the bible. Our faith must consist of not only believing that God is, but that he is a rewarder of those that seek him. As John Piper has said, "It impossible to please God without coming to him for reward." And what is the reward that God promises to those that seek him? Only the most valuable treasure in the universe, namely God himself.
Psalm 16:11 points to our treasure.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Oh, that we would all seek our highest fullest possible Joy in God with the same intensity of someone who believed that our lives depended on it. And indeed my friends, it does.
From all eternity the ever-existing, never-becoming, always-perfect God has known himself and loved what he knows. He has eternally seen his beauty and savored what he sees. His understanding of his own reality is flawless and his exuberance in enjoying it is infinite. He has no needs, for he has no imperfections. He has no inclinations to evil because he has no deficiencies that could tempt him to do wrong. He is therefore the holiest and happiest being that is or that can be conceived. We cannot conceive of a happiness greater than the happiness of infinite power delighting infinitely in infinite beauty in the personal fellowship of the Trinity.- John Piper
For the full sermon text this quote was taken from visit this link.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Believing in Christ is equated with obeying Christ. Belief without obedience is not a saving belief, God's wrath still remains.
John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Christ would have us know that loving him will cause us to keep his commandments, the soul that professes love without obedience is not truthful.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
Commandment keeping must not be burdensome or it is not done in love. If we obey, but don't enjoy obeying, we haven't obeyed.
Great quotes from Matthew Henry:
Men destitute of inward piety, often lay great stress on the outward performances of religion.
Sin is folly, and the greatest sinners are the greatest fools.
Our disposition to obey or disobey God, will often be proved by our behaviour in things which appear small.
It has been my experience that Joy in God kills sin, and that sin, kills Joy in God.
