And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master,
what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter
into life, keep the commandments.
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do
no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt
not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour
thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him,
All these things have I kept from my youth up: what
lack I yet?
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, 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.
Matthew 19:16-22

What Shall I Do To Inherit Eternal Life? (Jesus and the Man…)

1. The rich young ruler asked an important question
that led to salvation. Everyone should ask important
questions that lead to salvation.

He asked, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” It
is this question that led to him coming close to salvation. When
you ask the right questions, it shows that your mind is focusing
on the realities of eternity. When you ask questions about where
to find food and how much food costs, your mind is obviously on
earthly issues.

When you ask questions like the rich young ruler asked, your
mind is working on eternity. Begin to ask yourself important
questions that will lead to your salvation. These are some good
questions to ask yourself:
“What will happen to me when I die?”
“Is Heaven real? Is hell real?”
“Will I go to Heaven or hell when I die?”
“What will happen to me on the Judgment Day?”
“Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?”
“Why did Jesus shed His blood for me?”

2. Jesus told the rich young ruler three things that he
had to do to obtain eternal life.
a) First of all; keep the Ten Commandments. The rich young
ruler claimed that he was already doing the first thing, which
is keeping the commandments. Jesus acknowledged that it
was a good thing. But He gave the rich young ruler two
other things to do.

b) Second thing Jesus told the rich young ruler: Go and sell all
that you have. Being a Christian involves sacrifice. No one
can come to Jesus Christ without paying the price. God will
not lower the price for you or anyone.

c) Third thing Jesus told the rich young ruler: Come and
follow me. If you want eternal life you have to follow Jesus
Christ.
Being a Christian and finding eternal life is to follow Jesus
Christ. Without following Jesus you will not be washed by His
blood and you will not be saved.

3. The rich young ruler came to Jesus Christ when he
was a young man. Everybody must come to Jesus
Christ when they are young.
It is important to remember God when you are young because
you may never grow to become very old and therefore may never
have a chance to repent in your old age. Many people forget
about God when they are young. You must remember your
Creator in the days of your youth.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while
the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou
shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Ecclesiastes 12:1

4. The rich young ruler came to Jesus Christ when he
had the opportunity. Everybody must come to Jesus
Christ when there is an opportunity.

Today, as you read this book you have an opportunity to
receive Jesus. At a crusade, you have the opportunity to receive
Jesus. When an altar call is made in the church an opportunity
presents itself for you to receive Jesus. When someone talks to
you about Jesus Christ, do not miss the opportunity to receive
Him. Do not allow the summer to end or the harvest to pass
without getting saved. This is your chance for salvation. You do
not know what tomorrow holds for you. Make the most of the
opportunity that God has given to you.

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not
saved.
Jeremiah 8:20

Go to now, ye that say, to day or to morrow we will go into
such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell,
and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For
what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a
little time, and then vanisheth away.
James 4:13-14

5. The rich young ruler heard the Words of Life from
Jesus Christ but he turned away from them. When
you hear the Words of Life do not turn away from
them. Open your heart and receive Jesus Christ
today.

Do not turn away from Jesus because of your money. The Bible
described the young ruler as a man who had great possessions.
People turn away from Jesus because of their sins and because of
their pride. Do not put your trust in riches.
They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet
they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a
ransom to God.

Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever
pay enough to live forever and never see the grave.
Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish
and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind.
The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay
forever. They may name their estates after themselves,
but they leave their wealth to others.

Psalms 49:6-11 (NLT)

Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but
trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened
himself in his wickedness. But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever
and ever.

Psalms 52:7-8
… if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God
hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power
belongeth unto God.

Psalms 62:10-11

And if THY HAND offend thee, cut it off: it is better for
thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go
into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where
their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
And if THY FOOT offend thee, cut it off: it is better for
thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast
into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
And if THINE EYE offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for
thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than
having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Mark 9:43-47

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Philippians 3:8