A MIDST the ten thousand things which occupy and engross the human heart and mind to-day, how few, alas! there are, who are really interested in the "one thing" the rich young ruler lacked, the loss of which cost him his soul, and involved him in everlasting poverty and sorrow. That "one thing" was Christ, the Son of the living God. In all other respects the young ruler possessed many things the world thinks much of; for not only was his outward character blameless, but he was also rich, respectable, and religious. Spite of all this however he lacked Christ, and was therefore poor indeed! Reader, have you got Christ? And if so, is He really everything to you? All else is but "vanity, and vexation of spirit;" and this poor world is ripe for judgment, which will soon come.
Meanwhile it is with Christ, the great Searcher of all hearts, that we each personally have to do. It is no question of how we stand with our fellowmen, but of how we stand with God, to Whom all must "give account." Oh! then, dear reader, may those four solemn words of Christ, "One thing thou lackest," to which the young ruler was, alas so indifferent, find now an abiding place in your heart in this, the day of God's grace, lest perchance you hear them again, when it is all too late, at the great white throne. Doubtless there are many things you cling to in this world, but none the less are they so many weights dragging you down to eternal perdition, and so many hindrances to your coming out boldly on the Lord's side. The soul is ruined in so many different ways; and pride, deceit, flattery, fame, money, sin, business, pleasure, and the world's pomp and vanities, all alike contribute to bring it about; but perhaps man's own self-will is the greatest of all barriers to his accepting Christ as his Savior. Hence the deep meaning of those four words, "One thing thou lackest!" Christ alone can save the soul, and Christ alone can satisfy the heart.
All earth's pleasures fade and wither,
Christ alone abides,
And the ocean of God's favor
Knows no changing tides.
There are two things in connection with this ruler which are worthy of special notice. It is recorded (a) that "Jesus, beholding him, loved him," and (b) that "he went away grieved, for he had great possessions." Only a little while before there was apparently an earnest desire on the young man's part to possess eternal life, but when the test came of surrendering all for Christ, and of following in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene, his love of money gained the day, and his soul was left unsaved and unsatisfied. Though Jesus loved him, yet he "went away grieved." Oh! how true it is, dear reader, that Jesus loves you though you be still unsaved! How are you treating that love? And are you still content to lack the "one thing," even Christ Himself, Who alone can make you truly happy for time and for eternity?
Alas, alas! the young ruler came near enough to Jesus to get the blessing, yet turned his back on the Son of God, and preferred the "gold that perisheth" rather than the true riches, yea, the "unsearchable riches of Christ." Little wonder then, that he should go away grieved Self and present advantage came first with this young man; is it so with you?
Oh! listen to the Savior’s voice once more, "One thing thou lackest" and let His words sink down deep into your heart, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
“Nothing counts but Christ" were almost the last words that fell from the lips of a much loved and honored servant of God, long since gone to his rest, and oh! how true they are, whether for saint or sinner; for all else is but "dung and dross," yea, "vanity and vexation of spirit.”
“One thing thou lackest" if unsaved,
'Tis Jesus Christ, the Lord;
All other things, compared with Him,
No joy can e'er afford.
Then trust Him now, believe His love,
And thou shalt surely be
Possessed of all that love could give,
Through God's eternity.