the desire of ages-第123章

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This　ruler　had　a　high　estimate　of　his　own　righteousness。　He　did　not　really　suppose　that　he　was　defective　in　anything；　yet　he　was　not　altogether　satisfied。　He　felt　the　want　of　something　that　he　did　not　possess。　Could　not　Jesus　bless　him　as　He　blessed　the　little　children；　and　satisfy　his　soul　want？

In　reply　to　this　question　Jesus　told　him　that　obedience　to　the　commandments　of　God　was　necessary　if　he　would　obtain　eternal　life；　and　He　quoted　several　of　the　commandments　which　show　man's　duty　to　his

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fellow　men。　The　ruler's　answer　was　positive：　〃All　these　things　have　I　kept　from　my　youth　up：　what　lack　I　yet？〃

Christ　looked　into　the　face　of　the　young　man；　as　if　reading　his　life　and　searching　his　character。　He　loved　him；　and　He　hungered　to　give　him　that　peace　and　grace　and　joy　which　would　materially　change　his　character。　〃One　thing　thou　lackest；〃　He　said；　〃go　thy　way；　sell　whatsoever　thou　hast；　and　give　to　the　poor；　and　thou　shalt　have　treasure　in　heaven：　and　come；　take　up　the　cross；　and　follow　Me。〃

Christ　was　drawn　to　this　young　man。　He　knew　him　to　be　sincere　in　his　assertion；　〃All　these　things　have　I　kept　from　my　youth。〃　The　Redeemer　longed　to　create　in　him　that　discernment　which　would　enable　him　to　see　the　necessity　of　heart　devotion　and　Christian　goodness。　He　longed　to　see　in　him　a　humble　and　contrite　heart；　conscious　of　the　supreme　love　to　be　given　to　God；　and　hiding　its　lack　in　the　perfection　of　Christ。

Jesus　saw　in　this　ruler　just　the　help　He　needed　if　the　young　man　would　become　a　colaborer　with　Him　in　the　work　of　salvation。　If　he　would　place　himself　under　Christ's　guidance；　he　would　be　a　power　for　good。　In　a　marked　degree　the　ruler　could　have　represented　Christ；　for　he　possessed　qualifications；　which；　if　he　were　united　with　the　Saviour；　would　enable　him　to　become　a　divine　force　among　men。　Christ；　seeing　into　his　character；　loved　him。　Love　for　Christ　was　awakening　in　the　ruler's　heart；　for　love　begets　love。　Jesus　longed　to　see　him　a　co…worker　with　Him。　He　longed　to　make　him　like　Himself；　a　mirror　in　which　the　likeness　of　God　would　be　reflected。　He　longed　to　develop　the　excellence　of　his　character；　and　sanctify　it　to　the　Master's　use。　If　the　ruler　had　then　given　himself　to　Christ；　he　would　have　grown　in　the　atmosphere　of　His　presence。　If　he　had　made　this　choice；　how　different　would　have　been　his　future！

〃One　thing　thou　lackest；〃　Jesus　said。　〃If　thou　wilt　be　perfect；　go　and　sell　that　thou　hast；　and　give　to　the　poor；　and　thou　shalt　have　treasure　in　heaven：　and　come　and　follow　Me。〃　Christ　read　the　ruler's　heart。　Only　one　thing　he　lacked；　but　that　was　a　vital　principle。　He　needed　the　love　of　God　in　the　soul。　This　lack；　unless　supplied；　would　prove　fatal　to　him；　his　whole　nature　would　become　corrupted。　By　indulgence；　selfishness　would　strengthen。　That　he　might　receive　the　love　of　God；　his　supreme　love　of　self　must　be　surrendered。

Christ　gave　this　man　a　test。　He　called　upon　him　to　choose　between　the　heavenly　treasure　and　worldly　greatness。　The　heavenly　treasure　was　assured　him　if　he　would　follow　Christ。　But　self　must　yield；　his　will　must　be　given　into　Christ's　control。　The　very　holiness　of　God　was

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offered　to　the　young　ruler。　He　had　the　privilege　of　becoming　a　son　of　God；　and　a　coheir　with　Christ　to　the　heavenly　treasure。　But　he　must　take　up　the　cross；　and　follow　the　Saviour　in　the　path　of　self…denial。

Christ's　words　were　verily　to　the　ruler　the　invitation；　〃Choose　you　this　day　whom　ye　will　serve。〃　Joshua　24：15。　The　choice　was　left　with　him。　Jesus　was　yearning　for　his　conversion。　He　had　shown　him　the　plague　spot　in　his　character；　and　with　what　deep　interest　He　watched　the　issue　as　the　young　man　weighed　the　question！　If　he　decided　to　follow　Christ；　he　must　obey　His　words　in　everything。　He　must　turn　from　his　ambitious　projects。　With　what　earnest；　anxious　longing；　what　soul　hunger；　did　the　Saviour　look　at　the　young　man；　hoping　that　he　would　yield　to　the　invitation　of　the　Spirit　of　God！

Christ　made　the　only　terms　which　could　place　the　ruler　where　he　would　perfect　a　Christian　character。　His　words　were　words　of　wisdom；　though　they　appeared　severe　and　exacting。　In　accepting　and　obeying　them　was　the　ruler's　only　hope　of　salvation。　His　exalted　position　and　his　possessions　were　exerting　a　subtle　influence　for　evil　upon　his　character。　If　cherished；　they　would　supplant　God　in　his　affections。　To　keep　back　little　or　much　from　God　was　to　retain　that　which　would　lessen　his　moral　strength　and　efficiency；　for　if　the　things　of　this　world　are　cherished；　however　uncertain　and　unworthy　they　may　be；　they　will　become　all…absorbing。

The　ruler　was　quick　to　discern　all　that　Christ's　words　involved；　and　he　became　sad。　If　he　had　realized　the　value　of　the　offered　gift；　quickly　would　he　have　enrolled　himself　as　one　of　Christ's　followers。　He　was　a　member　of　the　honored　council　of　the　Jews；　and　Satan　was　tempting　him　with　flattering　prospects　of　the　future。　He　wanted　the　heavenly　treasure；　but　he　wanted　also　the　temporal　advantages　his　riches　would　bring　him。　He　was　sorry　that　such　conditions　existed；　he　desired　eternal　life；　but　he　was　not　willing　to　make　the　sacrifice。　The　cost　of　eternal　life　seemed　too　great；　and　he　went　away　sorrowful；　〃for　he　had　great　possessions。〃

His　claim　that　he　had　kept　the　law　of　God　was　a　deception。　He　showed　that　riches　were　his　idol。　He　could　not　keep　the　commandments　of　God　while　the　world　was　first　in　his　affections。　He　loved　the　gifts　of　God　more　than　he　loved　the　Giver。　Christ　had　offered　the　young　man　fellowship　with　Himself。　〃Follow　Me；〃　He　said。　But　the　Saviour　was　not　so　much　to　him　as　his　own　name　among　men　or　his　possessions。　To　give　up　his　earthly　treasure；　that　was　seen；　for　the　heavenly　treasure；　that　was　unseen；　was　too　great　a　risk。　He　refused　the　offer　of　eternal　life；　and　went　away；　and　ever　after　the　world　was　to　receive　his　worship。

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Thousands　are　passing　through　this　ordeal；　weighing　Christ　against　the　world；　and　many　choose　the　world。　Like　the　young　ruler；　they　turn　from　the　Saviour；　saying　in　their　hearts；　I　will　not　have　this　Man　as　my　leader。

Christ's　dealing　with　the　young　man　is　presented　as　an　object　lesson。　God　has　given　us　the　rule　of　conduct　which　every　one　of　His　servants　must　follow。　It　is　obedience　to　His　law；　not　merely　a　legal　obedience；　but　an　obedience　which　enters　into　the　life；　and　is　exemplified　in　the　character。　God　has　set　His　own　standard　of　character　for　all　who　would　become　subjects　of　His　kingdom。　Only　those　who　will　become　co…workers　with　Christ；　only　those　who　will　say；　Lord；　all　I　have　and　all　I　am　is　Thine；　will　be　acknowledged　as　sons　and　daughters　of　God。　All　should　consider　what　it　means　to　desire　heaven；　and　yet　to　turn　away　because　of　the　conditions　laid　down。　Think　of　what　it　means　to　say　〃No〃　to　Christ。　The　ruler　said；　No；　I　cannot　give　You　all。　Do　we　say　the　same？　The　Saviour　offers　to　share　with　us　the　work　God　has　given　us　to　do。　He　offers　to　use　the　means　God　has　given　us；　to　carry　forward　His　work　in　the　world。　Only　in　this　way　can　He　save　us。

The　ruler's　possessions　were　entrusted　to　him　that　he　might　prove　himself　a　faithful　steward；　he　was　to　dispense　these　goods　for　the　blessing　of　those　in　need。　So　God　now　entrusts　men　with　means；　with　talents　and　opportunities；　that　they　may　be　His　agents　in　helping　the　poor　and　the　suffering。　He　who　uses　his　entrusted　gifts　as　God　designs　becomes　a　co…worker　with　the　Saviour。　He　wins　souls　to　Christ；　because　he　is　a　representative　of　His　character。

To　those　who；　like　the　young　ruler；　are　in　high　positions　of　trust　and　have　great　possessions；　it　may　seem　too　great　a　sacrifice　to　give　up　all　in　order　to　follow　Christ。　But　this　is　the　rule　of　conduct　for　all　who　would　become　His　disciples。　Nothing　short　of　obedience　can　be　accepted。　Self…surrender　is　the　substance　of　the　teachings　of　Christ。　Often　it　is　presented　and　enjoined　in　language　that　seems　authoritative；　because　there　is　no　other　way　to　save　man　than　to　cut　away　those　things　which；　if　entertained；　will　demoralize　the　whole　being。

When　Christ's　followers　give　back　to　the　Lord　His