Bible Ballistics: BBs #449 What’s Good About Friday???
“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 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.
18 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, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 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.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:16-23
We can choose to pursue religious activity, self-righteous works, and impressive philanthropy, but if we haven’t been born again into a personal relationship with Jesus, we will find ourselves just like the young man that Jesus encountered above. This young man was eager to meet Jesus, and he asked the right question, but he didn’t really want the answer that Jesus gave. Why? We’re not told his motives, but for our purposes today, I’d simply like to say that it appears that he was like many today; he simply came to be praised by Jesus for his “already righteous” life! It wasn’t that he was simply “rich”, but that he was self-righteous in his wealth—knowing something was missing in his life, but unwilling to give up “self” for the “Saviour”!
Paul reminds us that unless we come to Jesus as sinners in need of a Savior, we are seeking the wrong things, and they will disappoint every time. We can have religious interest but miss the relational intimacy that Jesus alone can give, when we come to Him in repentance and faith. I love the book of Romans and in the first three chapters Paul paints an amazing picture of the need for a Savior—and only Jesus fits that bill. He talks about the blatantly open sinners in chapter 1, the self-righteous sinners in chapter 2, and then reminds us that while the gospel is ‘good all the time’—“all have sinned”, in chapter 3!
“As it is written,
There is none righteous,
no,
not one:
11 There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable;
there is none that doeth good,
no,
not one.” Romans 3:10-12
And that my friends is why Friday is good! That’s why any day is good when you belong to Jesus—for HE IS the One who can make sinners into saints (Not perfect people, but redeemed and transformed people!), and that is “Good News” any and every day, for all who will come to HIM in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sinners! And then we can join with Paul in the amazing declaration of his devotion to the Gospel of Jesus:
“For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God
unto salvation
to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness
of God
revealed
from faith
to faith:
as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
And while the gospel is “good news” on any day, on this special day when many focus on the crucifixion of Jesus, we know that this One, who was, is and ever shall be “God” in flesh, willingly lay down His life for our sins—when He had no sin to pay for of His own. He came that we could have life IN HIM!
“For he hath made him to be sin
for us,
who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness
of God
in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus
the Son of God,
let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted
like as we are,
yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help
in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
And because this sinless Son of God gave His life for our salvation—we can rejoice every day!!!
And while Friday is ‘good’—
Sunday IS coming—
HE AROSE!
HE IS ALIVE!
AND HE IS COMING AGAIN!
Amen and Amen!!! May The Lord God Almighty bless you and yours as you seek His face today and each day!
Bible Ballistics 