Matthew 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

If you remember the tale of the rich man and the eye of a needle, then you might remember that when he asked Jesus what was required to have life, Jesus said keep the commandments. This was the man’s answer and Jesus did not deny the young man’s commitment in this. This young man had kept the commandments.

But was it enough? Obviously not because Jesus then said, “if you would be perfect” which is not the same as keeping the commandments. Did you get that? Obedience is not perfection. Who wants to be perfect? That is the real question that needs to be addressed here. The young man did ask what he was lacking.

Are we good?

In our current vernacular that question is rhetorical. It implies that I have done enough, don’t ask more of me. It does not impact who we are, it says “I’ve done enough.” Who we are is the issue at risk.

Luke 23:28-29 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Are we there yet?

V31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Are we dry trees, barren of fruit, withered, useless for anything except to be burnt?