ONE THING
John 9
25 He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
This is the testimony of every true believer… I WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I CAN SEE.
The blind man was probably not educated, and certainly not up to the level of the Jewish elite. But knowing this simple fact made him more educated than a thousand professors. Something amazing had happened to him, and this was beyond the understanding of all these “wise” men.
Paul knew this fact, and knew something happened to him on the road to Damascus, as he recalls in 2 Timothy 1. Remember that Paul is a short time from death when he wrote these words:
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless, I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Paul met Jesus! He knew this one thing; eyes that had been darkened had been opened to the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
John Newton in his great hymn, Amazing Grace, puts it like this:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Of all the facts we can learn, this is the one thing we need to know. People can put forward all their theories, all their new and old ideas, but the Christian is the only person in the world who can say.. THIS ONE THING I KNOW, ONCE I WAS BLIND, NOW I CAN SEE.
Can you say that with confidence and full assurance? If not, you need to come to the foot of the cross in repentance and faith.
LUKE 18
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
What a fascinating conversation this is! The rich young ruler seems to have done everything right. He had kept the commandments relating to others, and if anyone was to get into the Kingdom of God, it would be him.
But he forgotten the commandments that said in Exodus 20:
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me
Jesus puts His finger on this man’s problems and there were many.
One was of spiritual pride. He thought he had kept all the commandments of God, but it says if you keep all the law and fail in one point, you are guilty of breaking the whole law.
The riches he had were an idol in his life. He was being asked to tear down that idol and follow Christ, which he was not prepared to do.
When Jesus saves us, He sits on the throne of our life: not money, riches, power, or prestige. This man wasn’t prepared to do the one thing that was needed to have Jesus in his life. He wanted eternal life, but on his terms.
Look further on in this chapter and typically Peter makes another of his big boasts. We don’t know this, but perhaps the rich young ruler was still close by. Jesus says that the benefits of following HIM far outweigh the sacrifices you feel you have to make. You will receive much more in this life and here’s the icing on the cake, we get eternal life also!
28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Is there something stopping you from coming to Jesus and following HIM?
Luke 10
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Jesus had come into Martha’s house. He had His disciples with Him, and they needed food and drink.
Martha was doing the right thing; she was taking care of the needs of Jesus and His disciples.
The words of Jesus in verse 42 are so amazing.. ONE THING IS NEEDFUL.
So many of us like Martha are doing what is needed on a physical level, but the real need for the believer is to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him, and then we can truly serve others. The real need of the believer is communion with Jesus.
A question: Are we doing what is needed or are we doing the needful thing, the ONE THING that matters, sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from HIM?
A challenge: Take your Bible into a bedroom, shut the door and just be alone with God, or go to a place where you won’t be disturbed, and take time to be alone with God. Spend an hour alone with Him, and turn off all the noise of the world: the TV, the computer, or your cell phone.