What must I do to inherit eternal life?

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”, the religious lawyer asked Jesus.

This age-old question is the most fundamental of all questions to mankind. It is very basic, and tremendously important, but the religious leaders of Jesus’ day had a system that had turned obedience to God into a kind of obstacle course. There were so many dos and don’ts that it left the average person on a guilt trip.

Jesus answered, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”

The lawyer answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus knew that the man could never keep the law of the Ten Commandments, and so He used a parable, a story to make His point. “You have to do the impossible.” Your love for others needs to extend far beyond what human beings are capable of, and this often involves self-denial, and becoming a servant,

Friend, the Lord Jesus knew that we can never meet the requirements of the law. Jesus knew that there is nothing we can “do” to earn an eternity with a holy God. So, He made the point that people ought to love and do good to their enemies, and on a deeper level,

Jesus pointed out that He is the answer to the question about eternal life: Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love God with all your soul. Love God with all your strength. Love God with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.

The man asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” If you and I are trusting in Christ as Savior, if we are born again, His answer to this question must be our goal in life. This must be our chief end. This must be our magnificent obsession. This must be our purpose in life. This is the mark that we are trusting in God only Son, Jesus Christ, for salvation.

Join us sharing stories of God’s love from the streets of Skid Row, on the Mission’s weekly television show, Sunday mornings, 8:00 AM, KCOP-TV, Channel 13.

Blessings,

Willie Jordan (Mrs. Fred Jordan)