YEA Lesson Library
From Here to Eternity
About This Lesson
Using Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler, this lesson teaches that we must put God first, repent, be baptized, and seek a close relationship with Him if we wish to have eternal life.
Scriptures
Matthew 6:19-21
Matthew 13:44-51
Matthew 19:16-30
Mark 10:17-31
Luke 12:31-34
Luke 18:18-30
Luke 21:1-4
Romans 6:23
Colossians 2:1-7
Words to Know
BEDECKED - to deck out in a showy manner
PHOTOGENIC - having features that look good in a photograph
BOMBSHELL - something or someone having a sudden sensational effect
The Lesson
The most visible and loved royal personage in the twentieth century was Diana, Princess of Wales. Photogenic and beautiful, she clicked with the cameras. All eyes and media cameras were on her fairytale courtship and marriage to then Prince Charles. The world hadn’t seen so much pomp and ceremony since Queen Elizabeth II married the Duke of Edinburgh!
Diana arrived at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the horse-drawn royal carriage bedecked in oceans of ivory silk taffeta and real diamonds sparkling in her hair. She was young, bright and beautiful. “I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world when I looked at Charles through my veil,” she said. Joy for the world – and the “luckiest girl.” But after giving birth to an heir and a spare, as the British say, the fairytale story came to an end when she and her Prince Charming divorced. Even after a nasty divorce from the future heir to the throne of England, Diana continued to capture the hearts of the people all around the world. With title, wealth and tremendous beauty, she still had the ability to understand and empathize with ordinary people, but especially the desperately sick, rejected and unloved. She was the people’s princess until that fateful night when Diana lost her life in the horrible car wreck in Paris, France.
There’s a story in the Bible about a young ruler who may have been as wealthy as Princess Diana. Who knows, he may have been equally as good looking. He came to Jesus one day and asked, “Good master, what must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus was the most humble man to walk this earth. He held His Father in such awe. He replied to this man by saying, “God alone is truly good.” He continued to answer the young man’s question about what he had to do to have eternal life and be told him to keep the Commandments. The rich ruler asked for clarification as to which commandments Jesus meant. Then Jesus listed several of the Ten Commandments – don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as yourself.
The rich man answered Jesus by saying that he always obeyed all of the Commandments and asked, “What else must I do?”
Then Jesus dropped the bombshell. “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.” This was not what the rich young ruler wanted Jesus to say. We don’t know if his wealth equaled that of Princess Diana’s, but the Bible tells us he was very rich. Selling everything that he had and giving it to the poor was more than he was willing to do. He didn’t have the wit to see that being with God throughout all eternity was far more valuable than all his wealth. So he left very sad. Somehow this rich man wasn’t able or willing to see that things – money, gold, diamonds, land, mansions, etc., are all very temporary. When we die, we can’t take those things with us. And they won’t come up with us in the resurrection when God gives His children eternal life.
The rich young man somehow thought that his good deeds would earn him eternal life. Even though Princess Di was a fine role model for doing good deeds, these things didn’t earn her eternal life. She died in that car wreck like any other human being would have. The only thing on this earth that lasts beyond the grave is your relationship with God.
Jesus tells us that we don’t have to worry, He wants to take care of us. “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:2-4). Jesus is preparing a place for you to spend all eternity with Him.
Now we’re back to the same question the young man asked Jesus. What must you do to have eternal life? On the first Pentecost after Jesus ascended into heaven, the people asked Peter this same question. Peter said, “Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 TLB). What does it mean to repent of your sins? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). It means being very sorry for breaking God’s law and doing your best not to sin again.
The rich man’s money was more important to him than God was. And remember, the very First Commandment says you can’t put another god before Him. This man wasn’t willing to repent of breaking God’s law. Yet, all of the rich man’s money couldn’t gain him eternal life. All of Princess Di’s beauty, wealth, and good deeds couldn’t give her eternal life either. Jesus came that you might have eternal life. He gave His life that you might have forgiveness of your sins. But you must repent of your sins and be baptized to receive God’s Spirit. And then you can share God’s wealth in His Kingdom for all eternity.
God owns everything and He wants to share it with you. What he has far exceeds all that Princess Di and the rich young ruler had if they were put together. Now you know the way to have eternal life. But you must do those things that are required of you to enter into eternal life. Your reward couldn’t be greater if you will just follow Christ’s instruction. But From Here to Eternity depends on what you do about it.
Student Prayer
Dear Father,
Please help me to realize how important it is to put you first in my life. Help me to never put money, the opinions of my peers, or anything before doing what you say. Eternal life with you far surpasses anything in this world. Thank you for that hope. Help me to take the necessary steps to have it.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Mark 10:17-31
Monday: Luke 18:18-30
Tuesday: Luke 21:1-4
Wednesday: Matthew 6:19-21
Thursday: Luke 12:31-34
Friday: Matthew 13:44-51
Saturday: Colossians 2:1-7
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain what they must do to have eternal life.
2. Explain that salvation cannot be earned by keeping the commandments, it is a gift from God.
Topics & Themes
Baptism
Eternal Life
Jesus, His Ministry
Obedience
Putting God First
Relationship with God
Repentance
Rich Young Ruler
Sin
Ten Commandments
How to Teach This Lesson
Open the class with prayer. Divide the class into breakout groups depending on the number of students you have. Usually shy students are less likely to participate if there are more than three or four in a group. Assign the questions you wrote on the board to different breakout groups. If the class has less than four students, you may want the entire class to brainstorm and find answers for all of the questions. Or you may assign just one question to each group if you have 15 or 16 students. Tell them they can use their Bibles and YEA Students’ books to help them find the answers. Allow them a few minutes to find all of the answers and bring them back together.
Debrief - Ask: In what way were Princess Diana and the rich, young ruler alike? Who do you think might have been the richest? What was the rich, young ruler unwilling to do that Jesus asked of him? Why do you think that he wouldn’t sell everything he had and give the money to the poor? Why do you think it was so difficult for him to make that decision? (He didn’t have his priorities in order. We will be even wealthier than this ruler when we become Christ’s, because we will inherit all things.) How do you think you would react if Jesus asked you to sell everything and give it to the poor?
The wealth of a princess - Ask: Who would like to make a guess as to how many millions of dollars Princess Diana was worth before she died? How would you feel if you suddenly came into that much money? How would you girls feel about having her diamond-studded crown to wear to your senior prom?
Definition of sin - Ask: What is the Bible definition of sin? What does that statement say to you? Write on the chalkboard: “Sin is breaking God’s law.” What does the Bible say is the penalty for sin? Have a student read Romans 6:23 aloud if no one has quoted it. Write on the board: “The wages of sin is death.”
Salvation - Ask: Can you earn salvation by keeping the Commandments? (No.) Why not? Ask one of the students to read aloud Ephesians 2:8-9. Did you notice that salvation is a gift from God? Gifts aren’t something we earn, they are given because of someone’s good- ness. And salvation will be given to us because of God’s goodness. We can’t keep enough commandments to save us.
Steps to eternal life - Ask: What steps must you take to have eternal life? List these on the chalkboard as they give them. Can anyone give a Scripture reference for what you’ve said? Ask one of the students to read Acts 16:31 aloud and another one to read Matthew 10:22. Write on the board: “Believe on Jesus Christ” and “He that endures to the end shall be saved.” Ask: Is it enough to take these steps toward eternal life? Why or why not?
The consequences and rewards - Ask: What are the consequences for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Savior? Ask one of the students to read Revelation 21:8 aloud. What are the rewards for those who do obtain salvation through Jesus Christ’s gift? Ask one of the students to read aloud Revelation 21:1-7 and Isaiah 64:4. We discussed earlier what it would be like to wear Princess Di’s diamond-studded crown to your prom. Ask: Did you know God has a crown laid up for you that will be much better than Princess Diana’s crown? Have one of the students end the lesson by reading 2 Timothy 4:8.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Give each student a piece of paper and a pencil. Ask them to write a letter to God and explain to Him how soon they would like for Him to return to this earth, why this date, and what they plan to do to get ready to see Him. Invite anyone who would like, to share their letter with the class.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Ask someone you know about their decision to be baptized. If you feel comfortable, ask more than one person to share their testimony. Before you talk to them, write down a few questions you would like to have answered. What was the most important thing that person shared with you? Write down the most important thing you heard or talked about in your Bible notebook.
Where in the World?
The rich young man encountered Jesus while He and the disciples were in Judea. How can this region best be described? What is its history? Use a Bible and Bible tools to find out more about this biblical region.
They Did What Back Then?
How did the young rich man acquire his wealth? What kind of jobs did they have in Bible times? Using Bible tools, research different Bible occupations in the Old and New Testament. Display your research as a newspaper employment ad and share it with family or class.
Making It Mine
This lesson talks about the need for repentance and baptism if you want to have eternal life. Are you ready for that step? Think about this. Pray about it. If you think you are ready, list the reasons why you are. Pray about this list. Then take your list to your parents, your Sabbath School teacher, pastor, or other godly adult. If you don’t think you are ready, list the reasons why you aren’t ready and list possible consequences for putting off baptism. Pray about this list with God. There is a time when God calls you; don’t put off responding to that call. Get yourself ready to come to Him. Putting off baptism could cost you the opportunity of being with your friends and family for 1000 years in God’s Kingdom. Is that what you want?
Worldview Collision
A biblical worldview says there is one way to eternal life—through Jesus Christ. Other worldviews say there are many ways to eternal life. People who adhere to these other worldviews try to make it seem that Christians are intolerant and deceived. The truth is, God is the Creator of the Universe. He gets to decide if there is an eternal life and how it is gained. God, in His great mercy, has made a way to redeem sinners through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His only Son. It is God’s right to extend that mercy to each of us. In your Bible notebook, write a paragraph as if you were talking to someone who believes there are many ways to eternal life. What Scriptures would you cite? (John 10:1-9 is a good one.) Make your essay as convincing as possible. Then share it with your family, friends, or Sabbath class.
Song
“I Exalt Thee” is on page 39 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Ask the students to form a circle and join hands. Invite a volunteer to lead in prayer asking God to help us to really understand repentance and salvation and give us the desire to be baptized.
Printable Pages
