It is always refreshing to start something new. To be able to begin with a clear mind and conscious on a new white sheet of paper with unlimited possibilities. Our biggest challenge is to actually start with the freedom that we have in front of us without letting the past color too much of our new start. Of all the strengths from our relationship with Jesus Christ one of the most powerful is that of forgiveness. Each day becomes a new opportunity in our lives to live out and share God’s love in our lives with others. If this were true in our lives then why do we struggle so much with the freedom of a new life?

Could it be that our old life had some advantages to us ? We were comfortable, everyone knew what to expect, no explaining to do, no different actions to take. People appreciated and accepted us in our flawed state and we were all good with one another. Wow, I am glad we got that aligned I thought this was going to get complicated for a minute …… We are all comfortable in our flawed lives and living at or below the expectations of others and to ourselves not to mention God.

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 – lived his life to the best of his ability and sought Jesus humbly to determine how he might obtain eternal life but his real motive was of human intent in that he wanted an eternal life with the qualities of this life? He calls Jesus good and the next statement is often taken as just that a statement that by itself is true and right but it can also be a question that Jesus poses to the young man to gage the seriousness of his intent.  

Mark 10:18 ¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.

Does he believe he is talking to God or simply a teacher that has an answer he knows he cannot get answered anywhere else? If he feels good about his life up to this point then certainly he has less left to do in attaining eternal life than many others right ? Jesus knowing his heart confirms for him what he must do and the young man confirms he has kept the commandments to the best of his human ability for most of his life – the text VS 21

²¹ Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.  says that,

and told him he had one thing he had not done – go and release all that he had but the text says he had many possessions and he could not part with them on faith alone. Jesus uses money once again, though not the real topic here, to illustrate the physical and spiritual struggle we have in our day to day lives when we reflect. The good comes thru and the things we have neglected or failed at we would rather skip but these are the very things God wants us to focus on and give from our spirits beyond our physical selves.  Time, money, energy, talent …… still not enough because the spiritual requires an acknowledgment of God being first – dependence on Him.

If we can reflect and plan forward giving him control of our lives then we can accomplish many things that are not physically possible today because we have not allowed God to make them possible for us.

Mark 10:26-27   ²⁶ The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. ²⁷ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”