Not Far Away

Mark 12:37 (KJV) “Thou art not far from the Kingdom” After Jesus has dealt with the question of the woman and seven husbands there comes one of the scribes. Remember that a scribe was an interpreter of the law. This is what he had to say Mark 12:28 (KJV) And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? This scribe saw how well and truthful Jesus answered, ask Him another question; 

Which is the first commandment of all? Then Jesus tells him  Mark 12:29 (KJV) And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: They had a problem with hearing just like we do. If a person fails to hear or listen then how will they ever know? Then Jesus goes on Mark 12:30 (KJV) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. After realizing that there is only one God, our love at that point should be focused on one God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Then Jesus says

Mark 12:31 (KJV) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. The scribe had no problem saying Lord you are right but Jesus said this to him  Mark 12:34 (KJV) And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. Not long ago I was talking to a man that I had gone to High School with. He made this statement “I just have been baptized” and then he made this statement “glad I have gotten that out of the way.” I'm sure he didn’t mean it the way it sounded. But too many have the idea that if they get baptized all is well. But this is not true at all, water can never wash away our sin. Church attendance can never make things right with God. Why, even being good isn’t good enough. Oh no one must realize that they have sinned against God. Just as King David did with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah, one of David’s soldiers out fighting for Israel at this time. Later in life David cries out to God about his sin. 

Psalms 51:3 (KJV) For I (David) acknowledge my transgressions: and my(David) sin is ever before me. Notice what David says next 

Psalms 51:4 (KJV) Against thee, thee only, have I (David) sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Who did David say he sinned against? David said he had sinned against God and Him alone. Our sin is not someone else’s fault, we didn’t sin because someone else made us do it, no we did it on our own, it was our choice and we sinned against God when we sinned. Don’t be like the scribe thinking that just because you know the truth you will be ok 👍 No the same will be said about you “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”