Today’s Reading, Mark 12-13
Focal Scripture: Mark 12:34 “When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.”
If you have ever been in a race you know that a small distance can seem like a very long time. For instance, when I used to run and train for marathons I was very good until I encountered an incline. On one specific race I was doing very well then I hit an incline that almost ended my day. This incline was not very far away from the finish line. However, it might as well been another ten miles. Even though I was close to my goal it felt like I was a very long way from the ultimate prize.
In today’s reading we see how a person can be so close but also very far away from the Kingdom of God. In this encounter Jesus has a conversation with a man that reveals his heart and what he believes. He admits that loving God with your whole heart is better than sacrifice and burnt offerings. This is when Jesus tells him that he is not far from the kingdom of God. But being any distance from the kingdom means you are not where you need to be so you can enter.
This gives us the truth that knowledge alone doesn’t lead to salvation. You can be very close to receiving the Lord but miss it entirely because you think you have wise answers. Or you give the right biblical answers. I am going to be very transparent, I have been around very wise people but they are far from the Lord. This includes lost people and people who attend church. They think that their intellect and Bible knowledge will save them. They know what to say but they do not love the Lord with all of their heart, mind, and soul.
I challenge you today to examine yourself and find out how far away from the Lord you really are right now. You might have received salvation and put your faith in the one who saves. If you have, you have received the gift of eternal life and the kingdom of heaven is yours to enter. However, if you haven’t received the gift of salvation because you have a head knowledge and not a heart knowledge you are lost.
I can’t tell you the number of people I have encountered who can quote scripture and give biblical answers to questions but won’t enter the kingdom of God. Why? Because they don’t understand biblical salvation. They have a heart that has been deceived by their works and their knowledge.
So what about you? Will you inherit the kingdom of God? Or are you just close to it but so very far away at the same time?
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Mark 14
