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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
overcome your love of the things of the world you will have no place
in the kingdom of heaven.
The lawyer asked Jesus what he should do that he might inherit
eternal life. Jesus referred him to the commandments of His Father,
telling him that obedience to them was necessary for his salvation.
Christ told him that he knew the commandments, and that if he
obeyed them, he should have life. Mark his answer: “Master, all
these have I observed from my youth.” Jesus looks upon this de-
ceived young man with pity and love. He is about to reveal to him
that there is a failure upon his part to keep, from the heart, the com-
mandments that he confidently asserted he was obeying. Jesus says
unto him: “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou
hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Jesus calls the attention of this young man directly to the defect
in his character. He cites His own self-denying, cross-bearing life.
He had left everything for the salvation of man, and He entreated the
young man to come and imitate His example, and assured him that
he should have treasure in heaven. Did the heart of the young man
leap with joy at this assurance that he should indeed have treasure in
heaven? Oh, no! His earthly treasures were his idol; they eclipsed
the value of the eternal inheritance. He turns from the cross, turns
from the self-sacrificing life of the Redeemer, to this world. He has
a lingering desire for the heavenly inheritance, yet he reluctantly
turns from the prospect. It cost a struggle to decide which he should
choose, but he finally decided to continue his love for his earthly
treasures.
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This young man had great possessions, and his heart was set upon
them. He could not consent to transfer his treasures to heaven by
withdrawing his affections from them and doing good with them—
blessing the widow and fatherless, and thus being rich in good works.
The love of this young man for his earthly treasures was stronger
than his love for his fellow men and the immortal inheritance. His
choice was made. The inducement presented by Christ, of secur-
ing a treasure in heaven, was rejected, for he could not consent to
comply with the conditions. The strength of his affection for his
earthly riches triumphed, and heaven, with all its attractive glory,
was sacrificed for the treasures of the world. The young man was