The Hall of Fame

“What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

In order to become a member of certain clubs or organizations, you must do some things to qualify you or make you eligible to enter. In the sport of baseball in the United States, the very best of the players will have an opportunity to be inducted into the “Hall of Fame ” in Cooperstown, New York. This is a very prestigious and special reward that very few players have ever gotten. 

In order to attain this special honor, a player must be among the best out of all of the other players who have ever played. Having some of the most wins or strikeouts as a pitcher, or being among greatest home run hitters or having the most hits as a position player. These are some of the main the qualifications that are required, and out of the 22,000+ players who have played in the MLB, currently only 269 former players have been inducted, barely over 1%, which just shows how difficult it truly is.

There was a man who came up to Jesus and wanted to know what he needed to do to receive eternal life, similar to how a baseball player might ask what they need to do to get into the Hall of Fame, and Jesus told him.

Mark 10:17-31  “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”

We will stop right here for a moment before we continue on with rest of the passage. The man came to Jesus with the belief that he had done everything that he needed to do to get that everlasting life. But he was still lacking in an area of his life, which Jesus pointed out to be his love for his riches. He just could not give it up. Back to the passage:

“And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”

The meaning of this passage is that there can be nothing greater to us than Jesus. We can have nothing of more importance to us than the things of God, as we are taught to put Him first. Not money, not possessions, not friends or family- there can be nothing that takes the place of number 1 in our lives. Because God needs to be number 1, in all things. 

With wealth or riches one needs to be very careful with, because they can become a great “temptation and a snare” (1 Timothy 6:9) and can draw a person away from the teachings of Christ. They can begin to control a person, causing them to be more concerned with their money and possessions and spend less and less time with the Lord. It is well known that a bigger house, bigger property= more work to take care of it, and less time that could potentially be used for God, and it can have such a hold on a person that they just could never give it up. 

And we always need to remember that, even though we usually think of just money or things when we read this passage of scripture, the ability to walk away from friends or family is just as important, if necessary to remain faithful to Jesus. If there are other things in our life, not just money, that become a hindrance to our spiritual growth in the Lord, we need to be able to do what is necessary to put Him first.

Luke 13:23-30  “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

Not many will get into Heaven, though many will try. We are saved by the grace of God, and not by our works, but if we truly believe in Jesus we will have a life that shows our faith by the works that we do. Are we faithful to the Word of God? Are our lives aligned with the Scriptures?

Are you able to give up things to go and follow Jesus? The disciples did. Can you walk away from the things that cause you to fall short of going into the “Hall of Fame?”

In Christ,

Andrew