Someone once observed that this world is the only heaven some people will ever know. But for those who put their hope in Jesus, this world is the only hell they will ever know.

Jesus constantly encouraged his followers to choose heaven over this world. This world would slip away from them in the end, but those who were willing to give up what this world offers in order to please God would gain eternal life.

The parable about the tax collector and the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 illustrated this truth. The Pharisee was so invested in his earthly reputation that he didn’t think about the life to come. He justified himself, emphasized his personal righteousness and didn’t consider the true justification God gives to repentant sinners. Without God’s forgiveness the Pharisee was in danger of forfeiting his eternal home.

The tax collector, however, was grieved over his sins and confessed them humbly to God.

“God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” Luke 18:13

The tax collector went home justified before God, his eternal destiny secured because of his faith in God’s grace and forgiveness.

The Pharisee went home feeling self-justified, but he wasn’t forgiven because he never asked to be forgiven. He missed this chance for eternal security – but perhaps he repented later and sought God’s forgiveness.

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:14

Divorce and Marriage

“Some Pharisees came and tested [Jesus] by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’” Mark 10:2

We don’t know why the Pharisees asked this question, but we do know they wanted to find reasons  to condemn him. So Jesus simply answered the question from Scripture, beginning in Genesis where God created man and woman.

God intended that a man and woman would marry for life. He joined them to each other so that they became one and what God united should never be separated. But people have hard hearts, they sin, and their sin separates them from God and each other. So God gave Moses laws governing divorce.

Moses said that a marriage broken by infidelity could be ended, and Paul said that an unbeliever who wanted to leave a believer was free to go.

Most believers now understand that physical or emotional abuse also damages the marriage bond. Abuse is a sin and staying in an abusive relationship enables that sinful behavior. God wants us to stop sin wherever we can, and he doesn’t want people to stay with an abusive spouse if they won’t repent.

But in answer to the Pharisees Jesus declared that the only basis for divorce and remarriage was sexual immorality.

“The disciples said to him, ‘If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.’” Matthew 19:10

Jesus agreed that remaining single and celibate was an option, and it was in fact the one his Father had called him to. But most people marry and when they do, they should remain married. They should not harden their hearts and sin against each other, but if they did, divorce was allowed. But divorce was never God’s ideal.

Jesus Blesses the Children

For most of the world’s history children have had very little status. People generally wanted lots of children because children are future laborers, heirs to estates, and perpetuators of a family’s identity. Also, the death rate for infants and children was quite high and a family needed lots of children to guarantee that some would survive.

Jesus placed a high value on children, not for what they could become, but for what they already were. Jesus saw the purity and innocence of their faith and he wanted all of his disciples to be like them.

“Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’” Luke 18:16-17

It was good for the disciples to see Jesus talking with children about life and faith. They were great teachers and examples for grownup disciples to follow.

The Rich Young Man

As Jesus continued his journey toward Jerusalem a young man ran up, fell on his knees, and asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. The man had it all, he was rich, young, educated and genuinely righteous – but he was worried about his eternal destiny.

“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” Mark 10:21

The young man went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus lived what he told that young man.  Jesus gave away everything he owned everyday. He didn’t carry luggage. All of the money that came his way was put into the common purse and used for the needs of everyone with him. When he came to the end of his life, he had one cloak left and that was given to the soldiers who killed him.

“Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'” Mark 10:23

“Then Peter spoke up, ‘We have left everything to follow you!’” Mark 10:26

Jesus assured Peter he would be rewarded in this life for all he had given up, and he would also suffer persecution for his faith because that was part of the cost of following Jesus.

The Last Shall Be First

Maybe Jesus loved the rich young man  because he identified with him. Everything in the universe belonged to Jesus, but he gave it all up for the sake of the Gospel. When he told his disciples how hard it was for a rich person to enter the kingdom, he knew what he was talking about.

He also spoke from personal experience when he told Peter that God compensated those who gave everything up for the kingdom. After Jesus left Nazareth he acquired hundreds, if not thousands, of new brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers who loved him. He stayed in scores of homes and walked freely in uncounted numbers of fields.

The proud Pharisees feared Jesus because they didn’t understand where his power came from. His willingness to relinquish everything in order to fulfill the will of God set him free to move, take risks and live unencumbered by this world and the things of this world. He lived so simply that there was nothing to take away from him – except his life and even that he laid down of his own free will.

Jesus was like the little children he admired. All he had came from his Father, and he never worried about whether that would be enough. He simply lived in love and joy, grateful for all that came from the Father’s hand. He was unafraid of losing anything — because he had already freely given everything up.