Why should I let you into heaven?

Why should I let you into heaven?

I wonder how you’d answer that question? That was the concern of the rich young ruler in Mark 10. He had everything going for him, he was wealthy, influential, young and he had an interest in spiritual things.  He asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus told him to sell all he had, to give to the poor and follow Jesus and he would have treasure in heaven! Why did Jesus tell this man to do this?  Jesus, speaking out of love, was showing the man that he had made something more important than God. He had broken the first commandment, his money was more important to him than following Jesus.  Jesus said it’s hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Why is that?  It’s because the more money we have, the easier it is to rely on ourselves rather than God. What must we do to enter heaven?  We need to be perfect, and there’s the problem – we’re not! Jesus said to the man “no one is good except God alone.” So how can any of us get to heaven? Jesus said with man it’s impossible, but not for God, for all things are possible for God.  What even a rich person entering the kingdom? Yes! How?

If the rich man had turned up just a bit earlier he’d have found out the answer – Jesus had just said the way into the kingdom was to be like a little child. What did he mean? Innocent?! Not likely, you don’t need to teach a child to say ‘no’ or to snatch!  What is it then? The thing about young children is that they are dependent on others.  Have you ever seen a child trying to pay for their meal? Small children are totally dependent.  And that, says Jesus is the way into the kingdom.  To depend fully on Jesus, his perfect life and death for us.