Robert Morris - Are You Good Enough?

The game-changing decision is the same for each of us. We are not good enough to save ourselves, so we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus.

The game-changing question for this week is: “Are you good enough?” Many people think if the overall good we do in our lives outweighs the bad, then when we die, we’ll go to heaven.

We learn from the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17–27 that being a good person is not enough to get us into heaven. The rich young ruler had been a good person and followed many of God’s commandments since childhood. Yet Jesus said he was still lacking what God required of him. Only God is good. No human has ever been good enough (Romans 3:12).

Jesus asked the rich young ruler to sell everything and give his possessions to the poor. He required this because the man’s wealth was what kept him from a total commitment to God. God requires the same from each of us: to take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow Jesus. We have to ask ourselves if there is anything keeping us from totally committing everything to God, such as our wealth, a relationship, sin, pride or a habit.

The good news is that Jesus loved the rich young ruler, even as he struggled with his total commitment to God. Jesus loved the man enough to show him that he couldn’t save himself. He loved him enough to show him the truth about what was in his heart—that he loved his wealth more than he loved God. Jesus loves us the same way. He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him because it’s impossible for us to save ourselves.