What do you have to be to get to heaven?

Pretty good

Better than most

A mother

Perfect

The answer is D. If you want to go to heaven, you have to be perfect. And I don’t mean “sort of” perfect, “mostly” perfect, or 80% perfect. Being 80% perfect is like being 80% pregnant. Either you’re pregnant or you’re not. Either you’re perfect or you’re not. The kicker in all this is that the vast majority of the world believes the answer is either A or B or C. Most people would say it’s A or B.  If I’m pretty good on the relative scale of goodness, surely I’ll go to heaven.  And more than a few would say being a mother guarantees a reservation for you for heaven.   Some people have actually told me that.  Seriously!

As you know, this coming Sunday is Mothers’ Day.  It is also the second week of our sermon series on generosity, which necessarily involves money.  Who in his right mind would talk about money on Mothers’ Day?  Actually, the occasion of Mothers’ Day is a good time to discuss the question the Rich Young Ruler posed to Jesus—“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  It’s also a good time to consider what Jesus said in response the Rich Young Ruler’s question.

“You know the commandments,” Jesus replies.  Why did He say that?  The Bible says over and over that we can’t be saved by keeping the law.  We are saved by grace through faith and repentance.   It seems to us that Jesus should have said. “I’ve come to die for your sins on the cross so you can be forgiven. If you believe in me and trust in me, then you will be saved and have eternal life.”  Why didn’t Jesus say that? Because, the Rich Young Ruler wouldn’t have understood it. He didn’t think he had a sin problem.

Look what he said: “All these commandments I have kept since I was a boy. I don’t need to be rescued. I’m a good person. I may not be perfect, but deep down I’m a good person.” Have you ever wondered why this man called Jesus “Good Teacher?”  Because it shows he thought it was possible to be good enough for salvation.  He didn’t need a savior to die for him.  He was a good person. So Jesus answered in a way to set him up, to show him his sin. When Jesus heard this man’s list of all the commandments he had kept, He said, “OK. One more thing. You want eternal life? Sell all and give to poor and follow me. Be my disciple.” 

Why did Jesus say this? He never told anybody else they had to sell all they had and give it to the poor. Why did he say it to this young man? Because He was putting his finger on the thing the Rich Young Ruler was worshipping and trusting
instead of God.  We must never put our hope in trust for salvation in anyone or anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Money can provide a lot of good things.  But it can’t buy salvation.  In fact, money is more likely to prevent salvation than it is to lead us to it.  As much as money can do for us, we must never think it can solve every problem.   And as sentimental as we are about Mothers’ Day, we must never allow sentiment to tell us that our mothers are saved because they are our mothers.   Everyone needs a savior.  Even people with a lot of money.  Even good people.  Even mothers.