One Thing Thou Lackest by Evangelist Billy Strachen Torchbearers Society, London, England
G od ’ s W ord clearly tells us of our responsibility to be witnesses for Christ to others. “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many wit nesses, the same commit thou to faith ful men, who shall be able to teach' others also” (II Timothy 2:1, 2). Christians need to be concerned about their ability to transmit to others the necessary things of eternal life. This is not only to bring them to sal vation, but also that they may be faith ful men; those who have a steady con tinuous faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. One who is anything else is not capable of teaching “others al so.” There are, therefore, several things as prerequisites which we must ex perience in our own lives first of all*. The first important essential is set forth in Mark 10 where the Saviour meets a rich young man (some have- even suggested that he might have been Saul, who later became Paul). “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the command ments, Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not. Honour thy fa ther and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus
beholding him loved him, and said 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 thy cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great posses sions” (Mark 10:17-22). From the story we can see a num ber of the things this young man did not lack. He had a knowledge of the existence of God and who the Lord was. But this can be dangerous if that is all one knows. The young man was honestly seeking a relationship with God. We know this from the state ment that he came running. He was willing to know God. It also reveals that he did not lack humility and rev- erance. When he reached the Lord he kneeled before Jesus and asked the question, “Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” He was merely seeking peace of mind or free dom from the guilt of sin. His atten tion was focused on having life. The main purpose of God in Christ is to give man life. This is the quality of life man has always sought since the first man, Adam, repudiated life from God and went his own way. What kind of life do you desire? Is it just a mat ter of seeking God’s face for forgive ness; for an insurance policy that will guarantee you will not go to hell? That is not what God wants you to have. This young man didn’t lack a reli gious upbringing, nor was he unleam- 24
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