Going Away From The Lord
The rich young ruler of Matthew 19:16-22 went away from the Lord with many of the same reasons that people do the same thing today.
Introduction
There is the story of a rich young ruler who approached Jesus asking about eternal life.
He had kept the Law and was boasting about it.
Jesus told him there was one more thing to do.
Sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
We know this upset him because the Bible tells us that very thing.
It says he went away grieved.
But the reason he went away grieved was for the same reasons we and people we know do it today.
Let us notice a few of them.

"HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL".
There is no happy way to turn your back upon the Lord.
It is always a sad and sorrowful state when one turns back to follow Him no more. John 6:66-69.
But, on the other hand, it is always a time of joy and rejoicing when one comes to Christ.
The eunuch rejoiced. Acts 8:26-39.
The angels in heaven rejoice. Luke 15:3-10.

“HE WENT AWAY IN A SINFUL STATE”
What is sin? Sin is lawlessness. Breaking the laws of God. 1 John 3:4.
He had an idol in his heart. That idol was covetousness. Colossians 3:5.
There were a lot of things that the young man was NOT guilty of.
He was not a murderer, and adulterer, a thief, nor a false witness.
But Jesus said: "One thing thou lackest."
Jesus told him the one thing that he would have to do in order to be a follower of His and thereby receive eternal life.
Therefore, he knew what he must do. James 4:17.
What about the things that we know to do and do them not? 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:3,4.
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16.
"Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper..." 1 Corinthians 16:2.
"not forsaking our own assembling together..." Hebrews 10:25.
"Study to show thyself approved unto God..." 2 Timothy 2:15.
"Pray without ceasing". 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

“HE WENT AWAY OPINIONATED”
It was undoubtedly his opinion that he could get by without doing what Jesus said.
He had his own opinion in the matter.
But, is our salvation a matter of opinion?
Is it a matter of "I think this, or I think that?"
Remember what Isaiah said in: Isaiah 55:7-9.

“HE WENT AWAY RASHLY”
He did not stop and take time to think the matter out to its final conclusion.
He did not stop long enough to count the cost.
He, seemingly, projected the evil day far out into the future. Amos 6:1-7.
He failed to recognize the worth of his soul. Matthew 16:24-27.
He did not look into the future as Moses did. Hebrews 11:24-26.
He reminds me of the song that we sing as an invitation song sometimes: "Time, Time, Time enough yet."

“HE WENT AWAY IN REBELLION”
He wanted eternal life, for that is what he came to Jesus seeking.
Yet, he rebelled and rejected the one thing required of him to receive it.
We today say that we want eternal life, but we are sometimes unwilling to give up just one thing to receive it.
That one thing stands between us and eternal life.
It therefore becomes an idol in our lives.

“HE WENT AWAY WILLINGLY”
He was not forced to leave.
He made up his own mind.
He chose his own destiny.
We are to keep OURSELVES in the love of God. Jude 21.
We must make the right choices. Joshua 24:14-18.

“HE WENT AWAY IN A LOST CONDITION”
He was without hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12.
Everyone today that turns his back upon God, and goes his own way, is also without hope and without God. Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-31.
Rejecting even part of the Lord’s commands will keep us out of heaven.

Conclusion
Do not let the phrase “rich young ruler” deceive you because you are none of them.
You too, will make a decision this very day and every day.
You will either go away sorrowful or you will come to Him rejoicing.
Which will it be for you?

By Carey Scott from an outline by Jim Sasser

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