Let’s learn from a real-life event. Today, many people appear to be pious and religious—but are they truly? This story challenges us to look deeper.
There was a man who seemed devout. He attended religious services regularly, spoke of faith often, and gave the impression of righteousness. Yet when faced with a moment of truth, his actions revealed something else. His heart was far from God.
This example reminds us that outward appearances can be deceiving. True faith isn’t just about rituals or words—it’s about transformation, humility, and obedience. Heaven isn’t earned through performance; it’s entered through a genuine relationship with God.
So, let’s ask ourselves: Are we living with authentic faith, or just going through the motions? The story urges us to reflect, repent, and seek a deeper connection with the divine.
Just then, a man came up to Jesus.
“Teacher,” he asked, “What good deed should I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus asked him, “Why ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.[d] If you want to get into that life, you must keep the commandments.”
The young man asked him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You must not murder, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and, ‘you must love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The young man told him, “I have kept all of these. What do I still lack?”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.
But when the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, because he had many possessions.
Getting to heaven isn’t easy. Why? Because many people are unwilling to surrender their material possessions, their vices, their luxurious lifestyles, and the comforts of this world. They assume that wealth gives them priority—but it doesn’t.
God desires humility. Yes, He blesses His people with prosperity—not to leave them in poverty or hunger, but so they can live with purpose, generosity, and gratitude. Still, material blessings are not proof of righteousness.
Even the children of Moses did not enter the Promised Land. Despite their heritage, they turned away from God and embraced evil.
What God truly seeks are sincere hearts. He sees beyond appearances. He knows who is loyal and who merely performs religion for show. Outward rituals mean nothing without inward transformation.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “I tell all of you [with certainty, it will be hard for a rich person to get into the kingdom from heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were completely astonished. “Who, then, can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
“Look!” Peter replied. “We have left everything and followed you. So, what will we get?”
Jesus told them, “I tell all of you with certainty, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the renewed creation, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, governing the twelve tribes of Israel. In fact, everyone who has left his homes, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Jesus’ teaching, though articulated in plain and accessible language, conveys a deeply layered theological vision. At the heart of His message is the affirmation that human beings possess authentic moral freedom, a freedom rooted in the dignity bestowed upon them by God. This freedom enables each person to orient their life either toward the divine light or toward the darkness that resists God’s purposes. Such freedom is not a superficial liberty but a profound capacity to respond to God’s self-revelation.
For those who do not share the Christian faith, a committed and sincere disciple of Jesus Christ may appear irrational, unstable, or socially unconventional. Such perceptions arise because genuine discipleship often stands in contrast to prevailing cultural norms. Yet the believer must not be governed by public opinion. Salvation is not determined by human approval but by one’s response to God.
In Jesus’ dialogue with the rich young ruler, He makes clear that entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, true salvation, requires several essential dispositions and practices:
a. Faith in the Triune God
A believer must affirm the reality of the Triune God: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Though distinct in personhood, they share one divine essence and authority.
b. Unwavering Trust
Authentic faith involves a steadfast confidence in God’s will, refusing to entertain doubt regarding His purposes and guidance.
c. Obedience to God’s Commandments
Discipleship requires adherence to all of God’s commandments—not selectively, but wholly. Partial obedience is inconsistent with the covenantal loyalty Christ demands.
d. Willingness to Endure Trials
Jesus openly taught His disciples that suffering, testing, and hardship are integral to the Christian journey. This theme is reiterated in His parables, including the Parable of the Sower, where perseverance under trial distinguishes true faith from superficial belief.
e. Righteous Action
Salvation is evidenced by deeds aligned with God’s will—acts of charity, service to the poor, proclamation of truth, and all forms of goodness performed without expectation of reward or recognition.