What Good Must I Do

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16)

Thoughts: Here was a young man and a religious ruler according to Luke.  He probably was a synagogue ruler or he could have been on the larger religious ruling body (the Great Council) of the Sanhedrin.  He comes respectfully- not trying to trap Jesus.  Mark says that he falls on his knees before Jesus and calls him teacher.
     It appears that he believed he was a good man and had deserved eternal life.  This is the problem with so many.  They think they have earned eternal life by teaching a Sunday School class, or coming to church.  They begin to think they are entitled to eternal life- but it is always a gift not a claim.  Doing good will never assure you of eternal life- for there is always one area (in this case love of riches) that kept the man unworthy.  None of us deserve heaven by our good.  We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. As one drop of poison can ruin a whole cup of water, so one sin can ruin an otherwise good life.  To ignore whatever sin keeps us away from God comes from our pride.  He was asking "what good" but believing he had already done the good.  The confidence we have for gaining eternal life is not in doing but in believing and the assurance of our hope by the Holy Spirit. 

Prayer: Lord, may I be assured by your hope of my eternal life. Give me grace to live with confidence and hope.