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MATTHEW 19:16.22

"AGE ABIDING LIFE"

I. THE QUEST FOR LIFE.
        A. Eternal or age abiding life more than just a quantity.
                1. It is a quality of life.
                        a. Rich, Full, abundant, complete.
                        b. It is the life of God.
                2. Jesus possessed this quality of life.
        B. Within each of us is a search for meaning.
                1. We usually possess some philosophy of where it might be
                   found.
                        a. If I were only rich.
                        b. If I just had a better childhood.
                        c. If I were famous.
                2. The answer is not in riches.
                3. The answer is not in moral goodness.
                        a. What lack I yet.

II. THE CONFUSING ANSWER OF JESUS "WHY CALLEST THOU ME GOOD?"
        A. It seems as though He ignored the issue.
                1. Started knit picking over a term.
                2. This is so out of character to use this method with one
                   who is searching.
                        a. Maybe with the Pharisees.
                3. We need to look deeper.
        B. Jesus is seeking to call his attention to a' vital fact "Why
           did you call Me good?"
                1. You have recognized "I am God."
                2. You have taken the first step on the right track.
                3. That quality that you see in Me is God.
        C. Jesus then told him to keep the commandments.
                1. Which?
                2. Jesus jumped over the first table of the law and
                   reiterated from the second table.
                        a. Thou shalt do no murder -  thou...vs. 18,19.
                        b. Prepare now for this answer..."I have kept
                           these from my youth up."
                                1. Not an idle boast, Mark tells us at
                                   this point Jesus looked at him and
                                   loved him.
                        c. What lack I yet?
                3. It is possible to have a lot of things going for you
                   and still not' be saved.
                        a. You may be a very good person.
                        b. You may have wealth.
                        c. You may be drawn to Christ.
                        d. You are loved by Jesus.
                        e. You may still lack that vital factor.

Ill. THE ANSWER TO THE QUEST "COME, FOLLOW ME."
        A. What did he lack?
                1. Poverty, no that statement was incidental.
                        a. Jesus put the finger on that which was keeping
                           him from full commitment.
                2. He lacked total commitment to God.
        B. If you ask the Lord, what lack I yet, you will get the same
           response. "Follow Me."
                1. He may point out that which is holding you back from
                   following.
                2. You need total commitment to God "follow me."
                3. You need to know God "follow me."
                   "And this is the record, God has given unto us age
                    abiding life..."
        C. He went away sorrowful.
                It is always sorrowful when  someone tries to hold on to
                that which he cannot keep, and thus foils to gain that
                which he could not lose.