Close, But Too Far

One Yard Short

The Titans had the ball on the Rams’ ten-yard line in the 1999 Super Bowl 34. In the last two minutes of the game, the St. Louis Rams had broken a tie with a touchdown, bringing the score to 23-16. The Titans received the kickoff at their 12-yard line and advanced rapidly downfield. If they could score now, they would still have a chance to win. The Titans’ McNair completed a pass to Kevin Dyson, but the Rams LB Mike Jones tackled him at the one-yard line. The Titans lost because they were one yard short!

They were close, but that was not enough! It was a fantastic win for the St. Louis Rams, but a crushing defeat for the Titans.

Three stories in the Bible demonstrate that there is a loss much greater than losing the Super Bowl by just one yard.

In Mark 12:28-34, Scripture recounts the story of a scribe testing Jesus and asking Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”  Jesus replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  The scribe responded, “Thou hast said the truth. –  that “is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”   Jesus saw that the man answered discreetly and said, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”

Scribes knew the truth. They had gone through years of intensive training. Their job included copying the Old Testament Scriptures, knowing the law well enough to interpret and teach it, and they were also responsible for preserving the Scriptures.

This scribe knew the truth but did not act on it. He was not far from the kingdom of God, but that was not close enough. Earlier in his ministry, Jesus said, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20).

You can be well-educated in the Bible or even be a preacher or teacher of the Bible, but not be saved. You may be close, but close is not enough.

In Matthew 19:16-26, a wealthy young man approached Jesus, asking, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”  Jesus told him to keep the commandments and then related the commandments about human relationships. The young man claimed he had kept all of them. Then “Jesus said unto him, if thou will be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me.” Upon hearing this, the man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.

He thought he was morally good. However, when Jesus tested him regarding the commandment to love God, he failed the test because he loved his money more than God. Jesus made a statement then that astounded the disciples. He said, “That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The amazed disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus answered, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The moral person can never be good enough to be saved. The rich person cannot buy his way into Heaven. They may seem close, but close is too far away.

Jesus used parables to illustrate important truths. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells the story of a Pharisee and a publican who went to the temple to pray. (The Pharisee was a religious leader, assumed to be good and righteous. The publican was a Jew who served as a tax collector for the hated Roman government. He was despised and considered a traitor.) “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself” (he prayed with himself – he really wasn’t praying to God),” God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

The Pharisee couldn’t see past his own pride and self-righteousness to perceive that he needed the Savior. He thought he was close, but he wasn’t. The publican saw himself as he really was. He came in repentance to the Savior and was saved (justified)

The Bible is quite clear. There is only one Savior and only one plan of salvation.

You cannot know enough. You cannot be good or righteous enough. You cannot be religious enough. Your good deeds will never outweigh your evil deeds. You cannot be powerful enough. You cannot be rich enough. Your religious relatives or friends cannot convince God to save you.

You are accountable to God for yourself. “Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12).

Here’s what the Bible says about being saved and going to Heaven.

We are sinners.“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). To sin is to miss the mark, which is the glory of God –  perfection. “ For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin (He was perfect, without sin); that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). We still miss the mark when we try to earn Heaven by our good works. If we could earn our salvation through our works, Jesus would not have had to die. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  (Titus 3:5). We can only be saved by grace (receiving a gift we don’t deserve). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The penalty for sin is eternity in hell (the lake of fire). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:18-19). “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

God loves us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).

Believe (Trust) in Him and call on Him for salvation. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:9,10,13).

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

If you have not yet received Christ as your Savior, please receive Him today and let Him forgive you of your sins and transform your life.