GOING AWAY FROM THE LORD.

Matt. 19:16-22.

INTRO:

1. There are only two ways to go, either toward or away from the Lord.

A. It seems that people are striving to serve the Lord on the one hand and hold on to the world on the other.

B. Jesus tells us that this is an impossibility. Matt. 6:24.

2. Seemingly, it would be an easy task to get people to obey the gospel if they knew that they could also hold on to some of their pet projects that are of this world.

3. Let us now consider the man that came to Jesus seeking eternal life. Let us read Matt. 19:16-22.

I. "HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL".

A. There is no happy way to turn your back upon the Lord.

B. It is always a sad and sorrowful state when one turns back to follow Him no more. Jno. 6:66-69.

C. But, on the other hand, it is always a time of joy and rejoicing when one comes to Christ.

1. The eunuch rejoiced. Acts 8:26-39.

2. The angels in heaven rejoice. Lk. 15:3-10.

II. HE WENT AWAY IN A SINFUL STATE.

A. What is sin? Sin is lawlessness. Breaking the laws of God. 1 Jno. 3:4.

1. He had an idol in his heart. That idol was covetousness. Col. 3:5.

B. There were a lot of things that the young man was NOT guilty of.

1. He was not a murderer, and adulterer, a thief, nor a false witness.

2. But Jesus said: "One thing thou lackest." a. 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.

b. Therefore, he knew what he must do. Jas. 4:17.

C. What about the things that we know to do and do them not? 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:3,4.

1. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16.

2. "Upon the first dayof the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper..." 1 Cor. 16:2.

3. "not forsaking our own assembling together..." Heb. 10:25.

4. "Study to show thyself approved unto God..." 2 Tim. 2:15.

5. "Pray without ceasing". 1 Thes. 5:17.

III. HE WENT AWAY OPINIONATED.

A. It was undoubtedly his opinion that he could get by without doing what Jesus said.

1. He had his own opinion in the matter.

B. But, is our salvation a matter of opinion?

1. Is it a matter of "I think this, or I think that?"

a. Remember what Isaiah said in: Isa. 55:7-9.

IV. HE WENT AWAY RASHLY.

A. He did not stop and take time to think the matter out to its final conclusion.

1. He did not stop long enough to count the cost.

B. He, seemingly, projected the evil day far out into the future. Amos 6:1-7.

1. He failed to recognize the worth of his soul. Matt. 16:24-27.

2. He did not look into the future as Moses did. Heb. 11:24-26.

3. He reminds me of the song that we sing as an invitation song sometimes: a. "Time, Time, Time enough yet."

V. HE WENT AWAY IN REBELLION.

A. He wanted eternal life, for that is what he came to Jesus seeking.

1. Yet, he rebelled and rejected the one thing required of him to receive it.

B. We today say that we want eternal life, but we are sometimes unwilling to give up just one thing to receive it.

1. That one thing stands between us and eternal life.

a. It therefore becomes an idol in our lives.

VI. HE WENT AWAY WILLINGLY.

A. He was not forced to leave.

B. He made up his own mind.

C. He chose his own destiny.

D. We are to keep OURSELVES in the love of God. Jude 21.

E. We must make the right choices. Jos. 24:14-18.

VII. HE WENT AWAY IN A LOST AND UNDONE CONDITION.

A. He was without hope and without God in the world. Eph. 2:12.

B. Everyone today that turns his back upon God, and goes his own way, is also without hope and without God. Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31.

CONCLUSION:

1. You too, will make a decision this very day.

A. You will either go away sorrowful or you will come to Him rejoicing.

1) Which will it be for you?

by Jim Sasser

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