The One Thing

Remember the scene in City Slickers where on their trek back to the ranch on horseback Billy Crystal (Mitch) asks the all-wise Jack Palance (Curly) a personal question. What is it that makes life really matter and how do you know when you’ve found it? Curly raises his black-gloved finger and simply says “Only One Thing.” As we journey through this life many are asking the same question. What is the “One Thing” that really matters and how do you know when you’ve found it?

In Matthew 19, there was a rich young man who held a high position of authority in his country. He was not only very wealthy but had abilities beyond his years to hold such a position of power at a young age. One day this rich young man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Now this young man who had everything he needed according to the world’s standards was respectfully and with all sincerity concerned about how to obtain eternal life. It’s evident that the “One Thing” that this rich young man didn’t have but was still looking for was eternal life. He was sensible in thinking that something must be done in order to attain this kind of assurance and happiness. Now Jesus who knows our thoughts (Matt 9:4 & 12:25) replied, “If you want to enter life obey the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man goes on to tell Jesus that he’d kept all of these commandments since his youth so what one thing does he still lack? Again, Jesus who knows our heart tells him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the man heard this he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus was showing this man the way of entering into eternal life now is through obedience by faith. By telling the young man to go and sell his possessions and give to the poor, Christ was revealing to him that your not perfect as you claim, in fact you have an inordinate love of the world and it’s pleasures. The man valued himself too much through his own merit and efforts to see his need for a savior.

Romans 1:5- Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith…..
1John 1:8- if you claim to not sin you are deceiving yourself and the truth is not in us.
Luke 12:15- ….one’s life does not consist of the things he possesses.
Matthew 16:26- for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Sadly, many make the same mistake thinking they can do something good to earn eternal life by their own merit. Others are too busy with the things of this life to inquire about the next. He didn’t like the terms by which eternal life comes. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we can specify the terms by which we come to God. Thus, salvation becomes a great difficulty to those who have much in this world.

Ephesians 2:8-For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
John 14:6- Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Likewise, we see in the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12 another example of one, who stored up his wealth so he could eat, drink and be merry. He gathered up treasures for himself and was not rich toward God. What he valued in this life had no value in heaven.

Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

My heart breaks for this young man who was standing in front of the Savior of the world asking about eternal life yet walked away sorrowful, falling short of having the “One Thing”. Let us not turn away from such a great gift but instead come to Jesus, the One who offers reconciliation to God and by faith say “Yes Lord I believe!” You will have discovered the one thing that truly matters in life and you will know that you have found it when your heart can say, "It is not I that have found it, but He has found me.”


John 3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

It has been said that a mother’s hearing is very acute, when our babies cry we know by their sound if they are hurt or just hungry, we can hear the change of inflections in our child’s voice when something is bothering them, our ears tells us if it’s our child hollering MOM above all the others, and we hear their conversations even if it’s just above a whisper. We can relate that in order for a physician to diagnosis a problem they must first listen to all of their patient’s symptoms. However, both the physician and the mother have used their ability to listen and they respond accordingly. Not everyone has the physical ability to hear, but everyone does have the God-given ability to listen and this is one sense that we widely take for granted.

I’m reminded of the instances where Jesus spoke to the multitudes, he ended his teaching with “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” This was in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy which in part says, “…for the hearts of this people have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing…” But blessed are your ears for they hear, many prophets and righteous men desire to hear what you hear but did not. (see Matthew 13:13-17)

For most hearing comes naturally but the real test comes when you respond to what you’ve heard. Are we listening to what God is saying today? John 10:3 bears witness to the believer, “and the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” Do you hear the Shepherd’s voice? A good barometer is our response. Ask yourself this honest question, am I listening to and obeying our Lord’s voice or have I become that wayward sheep who has gone astray?

Often times a person’s hearing loss can be measured based on their behavioral responses. The author of Hebrews gives us believers a warning to pay close attention, to be careful to what we have heard so that we don’t drift away. In Hebrews 2:1-4: He is speaking of those who have heard from the Lord God himself, they have heard the good news of salvation, they even responded initially but because of immaturity, spiritual sluggishness, and disobedience they begin to drift away. Our Lord knows our weaknesses and he is a loving Father who demands that we listen attentively to what he says. For if we neglect the message that we’ve heard through the Lord himself and through those around us sharing God’s word, how can we escape punishment if we don’t respond to such a great salvation. We lose out on the opportunity to reign with Christ and be heir of his kingdom.
Do not neglect this great gift you have been given.

It is the hardness of our hearts that causes us to hear but not to listen. Israel heard the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness, they heard the words of Jesus yet they failed to listen and believe. How many times did Pharaoh hear the words, “let my people go?” “Yet, Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.” For those who don’t take heed and turn at the Lord’s rebuke they face the results of their choice. Proverbs 1:23-33 gives warning to those who God calls yet they refuse to listen. However, a promise is also given to who ever listens to Him will dwell safely and will be secure without fear of evil.

Have you heard the voice of God calling you out of rebellion? Have you drifted away? Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Beware, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12,15) I urge you today to listen to the voice of Jesus, turn back to him now and repent. In order to hear his voice we must first be listening. Make time now to spend time alone with God. “The Lord will cause men to hear his majestic voice.” Isaiah 30:30 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “this is the way; walk in it.”” Is 30:21 Listen to our Lord’s voice telling you to turn back, come back into a right relationship with him it’s where you belong.

There is no chorus so loud that the voice of God cannot be heard….if we will but listen. Max Lucado.