“With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10:27
Today we see one final lesson from the young ruler’s life: Real change is impossible with man but not with God.
God can change the selfishness that would keep you out of heaven. How does He do that? Being good like God is possible through Christ’s life for you and Christ’s Spirit in you.
Christ’s life for you
“Not having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ” (Phil. 3:9). Jesus lived the life of perfect goodness that you have not lived and cannot live. Then He laid down that life on your behalf. God counts the life and death of Jesus as if they were yours when you come to faith in Jesus Christ. Being good like God is possible through Christ’s life for you.
Christ’s Spirit in you
“He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus did precisely what He asked the rich young ruler to do. If Christ’s Spirit lives within you, you will have a growing desire to pursue radical generosity, extreme self-giving, and unusual sacrifice for the gospel.
Perhaps you have a son or daughter who is a long way from God. You can’t imagine any change. As Christians, we count on God doing what we can’t.
Or maybe you have an unhappy marriage. It’s been like that a long time, and change seems impossible. As Christians, we count on God doing what we can’t. We cannot be good like God. It is beyond our power. We hang on the good and righteous life Christ lived for us. We depend on the gracious work of Christ’s Spirit in us.
For what impossible thing could you depend on the gracious work of the Holy Spirit today?
