08/30/20 NOT FAR IS NOT IN — In Mark 12, the Sadducees had just concocted a complex riddle to disparage Jesus. They surely thought that no matter how He answered, they could trap and discredit Him. But, no, once more, He answered as only the Son of God could—He “blew them right out of the saddle.”

Verse 28 (CSB) says, “One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, ‘Which command is the most important of all?’” It seems like he was NOT trying to trap Jesus. Perhaps he really wanted to hear the Messiah’s wise answer.  

He was rightly impressed with Jesus’ response (vs.32-33). Verse says, ^“When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are NOT FAR from the kingdom of God.’ And no one dared to question Him any longer.” Coming from Jesus Himself, this was a compliment indeed!

BUT “NOT FAR” is NOT “in” God’s Kingdom. The scribe was so much more receptive and respectful to Jesus’ Person and Message than most of the Jewish leaders. He embraced what Jesus said about LOVE, BUT, as far as we know, like far too many of us, he FAILED to understand his obligation to OBEY. As far as Scripture tells us, he NEVER actually became a sold-out, surrendered follower of Jesus. Unless something wonderfully miraculous happened to him, he remained a HELL-BOUND SINNER.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Faithfully attending a church, reading and memorizing Bible verses, praying a blessing before each meal, helping those in need regularly and living a lawful, decent life—if you’re doing ALL of that virtually ALL the time, YOU, too, are NOT FAR from the Kingdom. But unless you have deliberately accepted the Covenant/Contract that God is offering to ALL people—REALIZE that (1) Your Thoughts, Words and Deeds are Unacceptable to God; (2) The consequences for God’s displeasure are His discipline and chastening here on the earth, followed by an ETERNITY in HELL, separated from God, Jesus, your friends and loved ones and anything/everything good and pleasant; (3) Surrendering Control of the Rest of your Life to Jesus, God’s Son and mankind’s ONLY Savior, Whose undeserved execution on a cross God arranged to pay the incalculable debt you owe Him—unless you are 3 for 3, YOU, too are still a HELL-BOUND SINNER! Not because I said so, but because God’s Holy Bible declares all that loud and clear over and over. PLEASE, even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, economic chaos, rioting and looting, THIS is the MOST URGENT and IMPORTANT thing you can do!