Suppose you were asked to make a list of the greatest dangers to a person's soul.

What would you put on the list?

Atheism? Lust? A life of crime? There are all kinds of bad things that are dangerous to our souls.

I once heard Jack Miller say that there is a story in the Bible which gives us a stunning warning that "morality" and "prosperity" – things we consider to be good things – can actually be a threat to our souls and belong on the list.

He took us to the record of an encounter with a man who has become known as the "Rich young ruler." What a guy! He's interested in spiritual things. He has influence. He has money. In modern terms he's like "an Eagle Scout, the president of the youth group, the captain of the football team, and he drives a Lexus."

He comes up to Jesus and says "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus says, "Well, keep the commandments." "Love your neighbor as yourself."

And what does the young man say? "Oh! All these I have kept." (Do you think he has?)

Does Jesus say, "Well then, your good works will get you into heaven?" No, he does not. Jesus knows people's hearts. And he understands that while the law of God is good and shows us how to live, the law of God also convicts us and reveals to us our need for a Savior. And in this man's case, there doesn't seem to be any evidence of conviction of sin. His sense of his superior morality is a threat to his soul. So Jesus pushes him further.

Jesus says "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

Does the man say, "Why, of course I will do that. That makes sense. That's how I will get eternal life!"

No. We read, "When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."

The young man actually thought he had fully kept God's law. According to his conscience, he was a good person. He was a moral person. And he has been since his childhood. He expected Jesus to pat him on the head and say "My, what a good boy you are. Surely you're going to heaven."

But when the law does its work, according to Romans 7, Paul tells us "When the commandment came, sin came alive, and I died. The very commandment that promise life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me."

It's good to be good. It's good to be moral. But if you think your morality is what becomes your ticket to heaven, according to the Bible, you are mistaken.

So now, what else does Jesus do? Now Jesus goes on to expose the danger of prosperity. Wealth and possessions have become the idol of his heart. For you it might be something else. But Jesus puts his finger right on this malignancy in this man's heart. The Bible tells us, "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

Idols of the heart are not the same in every individual. But what is the idol of your heart? What is it that promises you fulfillment, safety, and security and happiness apart from God? What is the solution to the problems of your life apart from God? This is your idol. And Jesus is asking this young man to tear down this idol.

He is not yet able to do it. Prosperity has become an enemy to his soul. It can happen to any of us. Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven."

How did the disciples respond? It says, "They were greatly astonished, saying, who then can be saved?" What does Jesus say? He says "With man this is impossible..." Just as it is impossible for a man perfectly to keep God's law, so it is impossible for a man, in his own strength, to vanquish the idol of his heart. No self-improvement program, no willpower or New Year's resolution will do it. What is the solution? Fortunately for us, Jesus concludes that sentence with "...but with God all things are possible." God offers the solution.

What is that?

It is what we call "the gospel." The gospel is a "bad news/good news" gospel. The gospel is that "I am more wicked and sinful than I ever dared to admit. And at the same time, I am more loved and accepted in Christ than I ever dared to hope." I have not kept the law perfectly, but there is One who has – there is One whose morality is exquisite and perfect. Let the law drive you to Christ and believe in Him who lived the life you should have lived and died the death you deserve to die.

And, so importantly, believe that you are loved. You are more loved and accepted in Christ than you ever dared hope. And this will dislodge the idol in your heart. Only this. Yes, you feel threatened by it. For this young man, to lose his money, would have been to lose himself, because it was the center of his identity. It was his Savior. But it was his spiritual enemy. Jesus, however, is better. In him you are blessed "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."

Maybe today you feel like this rich young ruler. You see yourself as completely moral and upright. You are successful in the world's eyes. But something doesn't feel right. Well, be encouraged. Jesus went to the cross even for self-righteous, money loving people like you and me. That's the gospel. Will you believe it and preach it to yourself?

Musings from Pastor John, August 30 , Click to Email Pastor John