Nearly persuaded to be a Christian?

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2012

Mark 12 verses 28 – 34

There are just some little portions of scripture, nuggets, that preachers love to return to.  For me this is one of them.  I like to turn from time to time to this young man.  In verse 28 he was described as a scribe.  This wasn’t a righteous living young man here.  He had a great desire for the things of God, studied the word of God, knew the word of God inside out.  Verse 34 after all I have said about this man that he could recite the word of God defend the word of God yet being saved was only brought him so near but that as far as it went.  At the same time as being close he was so far away.  He was a candidate for discipleship yet he didn’t see it.  As far as he was concerned he was on his way to heaven and home yet the Lord stops him and tells him “you are too far from the kingdom.  The observation that is made.  That could fit any meeting.  Maybe could be said of you tonight.  Maybe the God of heaven could look down into this meeting and say you are not far from the kingdom not saved yet but you are not far.  It would take very little for you to be persuaded to be a Christian.

Notice in this statement – the position that is declared.  Thou art not far.  Is there such a place as being near, nearly persuaded to being a Christian.  The spiritual identity of many.  A condition many suffer from.  Got stuck in a certain place and it is hard to move on.  When people come into a meeting there is a battle going on, raging in their heart.  God has been speaking to them in a place that is very special, it wouldn’t be hard for them to take another step and come right into the kingdom of God.  This man is standing in a crowd.  He is taking the word into his heart.  Here in the crowd was a religious, good upright man listening to the questions being asked and how Jesus is replying back again.  Then he steps forward and asks one question – verse 28.  He knew the answer to the question before he asked it.  He was taught it daily.  He returned the answer to Jesus in verses 32 and 33.  Jesus looked into his heart.  He knew all about him, where he stood.  You could fool anyone tonight by saying you are saved but you cannot fool God.  He knows exactly where you stand tonight, knows whether you are a child of God, saved by the grace of God.  He knows the exact distance he has to make up.  Like the prodigal you are out in the far country, out enjoying yourself, there is a party time every day and night.  You have no notion of a father’s broken heart, not giving it a second thought.  There are those who would be swift to shed innocent, are planning to take lives tonight, no thought for the kingdom of God.  Then there are those who are almost there.  Elijah went up the Mount Carmel, went up to take on the prophets of Baal.  He was on his own against 400 prophets of Baal.  He turned to the nation of Israel and said “why halt you between 2 opinions?”  This is not a new position.  It was present in Elijah’s day.  Many would follow God but like the idea of following Baal too.  They have one foot in each camp.  Elijah told the people “if God be God follow him if Baal be God then follow him.”  Can you say in this meeting “I was at that place, I was brought to that place by the Holy Spirit not by a preacher.”  You could get emotional preaching tonight and it is not real.  Like the parable of the sower a little seed fell on the ground but it had no body to it.  It couldn’t stand the test of time.  Maybe you have come to that place, thought about it like this young man but gone away time after time.  Joel talked about “multitudes in the valley of decision for the day of the Lord is near.”  That is where you are at tonight.  The valley of decision.  I would truly love to know “is it well with your soul? If you died tonight would you be in eternal business with God in heaven.”  Notice who declared this – the Lord himself.  The Lord comes tonight in our meeting and knows how every heart is.  John 2 verse 25 Jesus knew what was in man.  In the book of Revelation he knew the spiritual condition of people “you are neither hot nor cold.”  The Lord knows where we are tonight.  The position that is declared.

A privilege that is despised.  When I think of the privilege of getting to this point, a point of decision he despised it.  Here was a man who knew God’s word, was enlightened by it.  What a privilege to sit in God’s presence, to have God’s word expounded, to know where we stand in the light of eternity.  Many cannot say that they know where they stand tonight.  We have a privilege to hear the word of God, to be pointed to the Lord, to the door of heaven who says “by me if any man enter in he shall be saved.”  Many gaze on the face of the Lord and never take that step.  “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”  This young man when he heard the word of God he answered and said “Lord you have spoken well.”  This young man had great knowledge of the word of God.  Saul was sent out to fight the Amalekites.  He had the word of God in his mind, that he was to destroy every living person.  Samuel came to meet him and Saul told him that he had done as instructed.  Samuel then said to Saul “what meaneth then this bleating of sheep?”  Saul told him they have kept the best sheep to bring them to sacrifice.  Samuel told Saul “obedience is better than sacrifice.”  You may know the word of God inside out but if you have never taken the step to Calvary it means you are not believing it.  Think of the privilege you have.  Think of many who have given their lives, many who have been imprisoned, burnt at the stake.  What a privilege to have the gospel message.  Timothy in the New Testament what a great privilege he had.  The Bible says he was brought up in a godly home under the influence of a grandmother who knew and loved the Lord, a mother who taught him the word of God.  They both taught him the word of God.  This was the privilege this young man had.  That could only make him wise unto salvation but it is through faith that is the obedience aspect.  Esau had the privilege of having a birthright, all that the father had would be his.  When Esau came in from the fields one day he was hungry.  Jacob had a pot of stew and Esau wanted some of it.  Jacob told him “if you give me the birthright I will give you this stew.”  You are giving your soul away – for what?  Jesus said we could gain the whole world yet what would it be to lose our own soul?

There is a pursuit that is demanded.  Jesus doesn’t let this young man down.  He plainly and simply tells him.  He doesn’t hedge about it – he tells him he is not far.  There is light on his spiritual condition.  You are not saved but you are not far from getting saved.  Are you genuinely born again tonight, sure of sins forgiven?  The one who knew what it was to bear our sins, he is now seated at the right hand of the throne of heaven waiting to be told and go and bring home every child of God.  If that were the case would it be for you?

There is a peril that is devastating.  There are different attitudes to this portion of scripture.  Some would make out that this young man to be different people.  No-one is too sure, we are not too sure if he ever got another opportunity to take that step.  We don’t read of it.  God is giving an opportunity for you to step out and be saved.  He wants you to come, to trust him.  Judas Iscariot went to the Lord and kissed him and then went out to a lost hell.  Abner got to the city of refuge, he turned around and the enemy killed him.  David said at his death “died Abner as a fool dieth.”  Wouldn’t it be awful to leave this meeting tonight knowing you were almost into the kingdom of heaven, knowing only a step away – will you come, will you trust him tonight?