Come and Get It!

Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

Let's assume for the moment that this man who came up to Jesus that day and asked about eternal life really did keep all the commandments from his youth, as he said. Let's assume he was this exemplary human being that he claimed to be. And that he really did all these things out of pure love for others and not for himself. What does Jesus say to him then? Basically this: well, that's a good start. But it's only a start. And a small one at that. If you really want to know what you must do to inherit eternal life, sell all that you have and give to the poor. Surely you know that you're going to die and that you can't take it with you. So don't wait until you die; do it now. And then come, follow me.