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What Stands Between You and the Free Gift?

Eternal life is a free gift.1 Okay, that’s clear. But to whom is it given? According to the word of God it is available for all who overcome everything that is set against the freedom to drink of the water of life.

And He said to me, “It is done, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:6-7)

Now some people would think you were a heretic if you said that one had to actually do something to gain eternal life. But it’s true, there are obstacles that stand in the way of the free gift the Father offers all who trust in His Son. Oh yes, there’s that word: trust. The rich young ruler was one who could not overcome the obstacles that kept him from inheriting eternal life. He would not trust Yahshua.

One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:21-22)

But the rich young ruler’s trust was in his riches:

Then Jesus [Yahshua] looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God?” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:23-24)

So, what Yahshua said in verse 25 was the case for him:

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:25)

In order for the rich young ruler to overcome the obstacle that stood between him and eternal life, he had to do what Yahshua commanded him to do. The disciples understood that this was foundational for all those who would follow Him, not just for this particular man, as some say. So they asked, “Who then can be saved?” Yahshua went on to tell them the good news, which applies to all who wish to receive the free gift of salvation.

So each one must overcome the obstacles, which stand in the way of faith, which grants trust (or belief); and trusting Him completely will motivate us to obey all His commandments.2 So we see from the example of the rich young ruler that eternal life is only given to those who overcome whatever would stand in the way of drinking freely from the water of life.3

The Obstacles

Yahshua saw and understood the obstacles that would keep someone from coming to Him to receive the free gift of eternal life. He outlined these things extensively in the gospels, such as:

  • Possessions

  • Family

  • Your own life

In Revelation 21 it goes on to talk about how those who do not overcome these obstacles (once they are offered the water of life) are the worst kind of criminal, deserving of the second death.

But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

First in the list of the worst criminals of humanity in Revelation 21:8 is the cowardly and unbelieving — those who have the privilege of hearing from someone sent from the Father exactly what they must do in order to receive the water of life, and yet they shrink back from trusting and believing.4 The rich young ruler turned out to be a coward and did not believe the Son of God. He may not have been like all the rest of the criminals in the list of Revelation 21:8, but he became the worst of them all.

The Offer

The Creator of heaven and earth – and the universe – is offering you, through His sons and daughters, to get to know Him and have fellowship (deep, heart to heart communication) with Him and His family forever! Isn’t that the greatest thing you could possibly have? Isn’t that worth giving up everything else for?

It is real, and once you find it, it would be a serious crime to deny it. If you haven’t found that kind of intimate relationship with Him and with brothers and sisters who are becoming more and more like Him everyday, then you haven’t yet found the water of life. If you desire it enough to overcome whatever stands between you and that water, then please, visit one of our communities around the world where the water of life is being freely offered.

  1. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 [ESV2001]
  2. Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (I John 2:4 [ESV2001]; teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you… (Matthew 28:20 [ESV2001])
  3. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Revelation of John 22:17 [ESV2001]
  4. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18 [ESV2001])
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