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What Lack I?, October 20
Luke 18:18-27
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?
Luke 18:18
.
The young man who asked Jesus what he should do that he might have
eternal life was answered: “Keep the commandments.
The character of God is expressed in His law; and in order for you to be in
harmony with God, the principles of His law must be the spring of your every
action....
To the words, “Keep the commandments,” the young man answered,
“Which?” ... Christ was speaking of the law given from Sinai. He mentioned
several commandments from the second table of the Decalogue....
The young man answered without hesitation, “All these things have I kept
from my youth up; what lack I yet?” His conception of the law was external
and superficial. Judged by a human standard, he had preserved an unblemished
character. To a great degree his outward life had been free from guilt; he verily
thought that his obedience had been without a flaw. Yet he had a secret fear that
all was not right between his soul and God. This prompted the question, “What
lack I yet?”
“If thou wilt be perfect,” Christ said, “go and sell that thou hast, and give
to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow Me.
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had
great possessions.”
The lover of self is a transgressor of the law. This Jesus desired to reveal to
the young man, and He gave him a test that would make manifest the selfishness
of his heart. He showed him the plague spot in his character. The young man
desired no further enlightenment. He had cherished an idol in the soul; the world
was his god. He professed to have kept the commandments, but he was destitute
of the principle which is the very spirit and life of them all. He did not possess
true love for God or man. This want was the want of everything that would
qualify him to enter the kingdom of heaven. In his love of self and worldly gain
he was out of harmony with the principles of heaven
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35
Testimonies for the Church 4:219, 220
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36
Christ’s Object Lessons 391, 392
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