Hello, friends, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus.
Today, I want to talk about something that hit close to home when I read it in a book called "Destined to Soar" by K.P. Yohannan. He is the founder and international director of Gospel for Asia.
It's about what we're holding onto. What we're trusting in. What we think we can't live without. Because friends, there's often one thing—just one thing—that stands between us and the fullness of life in Christ.
And today, I want to share a story from Scripture that illustrates this so powerfully. It's actually two stories—two men, two encounters with Jesus, two very different outcomes. One found life. The other lost it. And the difference between them might surprise you.
Let me take you to Luke chapter 18. A rich young ruler approaches Jesus with the most burning question on his heart: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Friends, this wasn't a trap question. This wasn't a religious debate like so many others tried to engage Jesus in. This young man honestly wanted to know. His heart was seeking. He came to the right person with the right question.
Jesus, knowing this man's heart, listed five of the commandments. And the young man confidently replied that he had a perfect record in keeping them all. He'd done everything right—at least outwardly. But then Jesus said something that changed everything: "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor... and come, follow Me."
And Scripture tells us that the rich ruler went away sorrowful. He couldn't do it. He had great possessions, and he couldn't let them go.
Now, let's look at the second man. His name was Zacchaeus, and he was also rich—but he'd gained his wealth by shamelessly defrauding others. Zacchaeus was a well-known crook, a tax collector who lined his pockets by cheating his own people.
When Jesus came to his house, something remarkable happened. Jesus said nothing to Zacchaeus about selling his house or giving his money away. Nothing! Yet amazingly, Zacchaeus freely made the decision to give half of his possessions to the poor and restore four times the amount he stole to everyone he'd cheated.
Two rich men. Two encounters with Jesus. One walked away sad. The other gave it all away with joy. What made the difference?
Here's what I believe happened: When Zacchaeus saw Christ, he saw the pearl of great price. He saw in Jesus everything—all things, completion. He realized, "If I have Him, I can easily give away everything. What else do I need?"
But when the young ruler saw Jesus, he didn't see the pearl of great price. If we could know what his thoughts were that day, I imagine most of them were focused on what he would be giving up, more than what he would gain in Christ.
Friends, that's the difference. It's not about how much you have. It's not about how good you've been. It's about whether you see Jesus as worth more than everything else combined.
And here's the convicting part: We very often make the same mistake as the rich young ruler. We truly want to follow Christ and experience His abundant life. We do! We're not faking it. But we focus on what we may have to give up, and we're afraid to let go of those things we have relied on for so long.
I believe the Lord looks for that "one thing" we grasp so tightly and depend on. It could be anything and it's usually not what you think it is. It's not always money or possessions.
It could be our strength—our ability to handle things on our own. It could be our education or our intellect—we've figured out how life works, and we trust in our own understanding. It could be a meaningful relationship—maybe you're holding onto someone so tightly that they've become your source of security instead of God.
It could be our years of Christian experience—"I've been a believer for 30 years; I know what I'm doing." It could be our connections, the good reputation we've established, our position in ministry or at work. It could be our extraordinary discernment and other spiritual gifts—we trust in our ability to hear from God rather than trusting in God Himself.
It could be our plans for marriage, our career path, our dreams for our children. Or yes, it could be the things of this world like the rich young ruler—our bank account, our home, our security, our comfort.
Whatever that one thing is, it has become our treasure. And where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
In the book of Revelation, we encounter a group of people in the church of Laodicea who were convinced that they were rich and lacked nothing. They had it all together. They were doing fine. They were comfortable.
Yet the Lord told them something shocking: "You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked."
Wait, what? How could they think they were rich when Jesus said they were poor? Why did the Lord think they lacked everything? It's because they had become self-reliant. And that self-reliance prevented them from experiencing the genuine life of Christ.
Friends, self-reliance is one of the most dangerous spiritual conditions we can be in. Because when we're self-reliant, we don't think we need God. We have our systems, our plans, our abilities, our resources. We've got this. And we completely miss out on the abundant, overflowing life that Jesus came to give us.
Here's what happens: As long as we hold on to that one thing in which we trust, we will never be able to surrender fully to Christ. Consequently, there will always be a distance between the Lord and us.
Have you ever felt that? That sense that you're going through the motions, but you're not experiencing the closeness with God that you long for? That frustration when you pray and it feels like your prayers aren't getting through? That discouragement when you read your Bible and it's just words on a page?
Often, that distance isn't because God has moved. It's because we're clutching something so tightly that we can't fully embrace Him. Such lack of closeness results in frustration and discouragement on our part.
And here's another consequence: That one thing will be a constant hindrance for the rivers of living water to flow freely out from us and give life to others. Jesus said that out of our innermost being would flow rivers of living water. But if we're blocked up with self-reliance, with trust in our one thing, those rivers can't flow. We become stagnant instead of life-giving.
So how do we recognize the "one thing" still lacking in us? How do we identify what we're holding onto too tightly?
Here's the test: We will know it by the discouragement, tension, bitterness, frustration, and irritation that fill our hearts when that "one thing" is tampered with.
Think about it. What makes you anxious? What keeps you up at night? What causes you to lose your peace? What triggers an overreaction in you? What are you afraid of losing? What can't you imagine your life without?
When that thing is threatened, when it's challenged, when it's taken away—that's when you see what you're really trusting in. God will open our eyes, and we will recognize it if we truly desire to.
And here's the good news: We will then have the grace to surrender it to the Lord. But notice how this works—not by looking at what we are letting go, but by looking at all that we have in Christ, the pearl of great price.
You see, the rich young ruler looked at his possessions and couldn't let go. Zacchaeus looked at Jesus and couldn't hold on fast enough. The difference wasn't in their circumstances. It was in their focus.
If "our riches"—that which we value most—are the Lord and what we have in Him, then no raging storm can cause any disturbance. Amy Carmichael once wrote, "A cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted."
Friends, that's the secret. When we're so full of Jesus, when we've tasted and seen that the Lord is good, when we've experienced the pearl of great price—everything else pales in comparison. The things we were clutching so tightly suddenly seem worthless compared to knowing Christ.
I believe the Lord wants us to live in a continual state of seeing Him as everything and being content in Him alone. Not just in a crisis moment. Not just when we're at a conference or a retreat. But continually. Daily. Moment by moment.
Those whose life is full of joy and the unhindered presence of the Lord are the ones who experience a continuous feast on Him. They're feasting on Jesus all the time. They're tasting His goodness, experiencing His presence, drinking from His well. And when you're feasting on Him, nothing else will matter. Abandonment to Christ alone becomes the obvious choice.
It's not a burden. It's not a sacrifice. It's the only thing that makes sense when you truly see who He is.
So let me ask you: Will you believe that He is truly the pearl of great price?
Not just intellectually. Not just theologically. But experientially. In your daily life. In your decisions. In what you hold onto and what you let go of.
What's your one thing? What are you grasping so tightly that it's keeping you from the fullness of life in Christ? Is it your financial security? Your reputation? Your plans? A relationship? Your abilities? Your ministry? Your comfort?
God is inviting you to step out. To let go. To trust Him. And I promise you this—you'll find Him to be so much more than you imagine.
I can tell you from my own experience, every time I've been forced to let go of something I was clutching, I've discovered more of Jesus. Every time I've had to release my grip on my plans, my security, my understanding—I've found that His plans are better, His security is unshakeable, His understanding surpasses all knowledge.
It's scary at first. Of course it is. Letting go always feels risky. But friends, the risk of holding on is so much greater. Because when we hold on to our one thing, we miss out on the abundant life Jesus came to give us.
So here's my invitation to you today: Ask God to show you what your one thing is. Don't be afraid of the answer. Be excited about it. Because once you identify it, once you see it clearly, you can surrender it. And that surrender opens the door to more of Jesus than you've ever experienced.
Lord Jesus, help us to be like Zacchaeus. When he saw You, he gave away half his possessions joyfully. Not because he was forced to. Not because he had to earn his salvation. But because he'd found that You, Lord Jesus, were worth more than everything he owned. Help us to have that same experience; to know that same joy; to experience that same freedom. May each of us truly see You, Jesus, as the pearl of great price. We love You! And it’s in Your name we pray this, amen.
Thank you for joining me today for this challenging but hopefully encouraging conversation. If God is speaking to you about something you're holding onto, don't ignore it. Lean in. Ask Him for grace to let go. And watch what He does when you open your hands and your heart fully to Him.
Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus—the pearl of great price—and remember, He is worth more than everything else combined.
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