The First Step to Transformation
Mark 10:17–18 (NLT) tells us, “As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus asked. ‘Only God is truly good.’” On the surface, this young man seemed respectful. He ran to Jesus, knelt before Him, and asked about the most important question of all—eternal life. But his greeting revealed the problem. By calling Jesus “Good Teacher,” he was treating Christ as if He were just another rabbi, a wise man with good morals and spiritual insight. He failed to recognize Him for who He truly is: the Son of the Living God.
And here’s the truth for us: if we want real answers from Jesus—if we want His blessing and the kind of transformation that changes everything—we must be settled about who He is. We can’t approach Him with doubt, treating Him as just a wise man or a moral example. We must come to Him as Lord, fully God and fully worthy of our surrender. That’s when His Word takes root, and that’s when His truth unlocks real life and lasting freedom in us.
Checking Boxes vs. True Surrender
The young man in this passage was a Jewish ruler and very wealthy. His actions showed a measure of humility—he came running to Jesus, and he knelt before Him, showing respect and a desire to be taught by the Master. Unlike Nicodemus, who waited until nightfall to seek Jesus in secret, this man approached Him in broad daylight, in front of others, while Jesus was on His way about the Father’s business.
On the surface, it looked like everything lined up for an optimal outcome. The rich man thought so too. From his perspective, he had checked all the right boxes: wealth, status, respectability, even an earnest approach to Jesus. But “checking boxes” doesn’t lead to transformation—it only creates the appearance of righteousness. Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, pursued knowledge, wealth, and pleasure, leaving no stone unturned in his search for fulfillment. Yet he concluded it was all meaningless apart from God. And that’s the truth for us as well: we can chase wisdom, success, and experiences, thinking they’ll fill us, but without surrender to Christ, our hands may be full, yet our hearts will still be empty.
Recognizing What Only God Can Provide
In Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NLT), Solomon confessed, “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.” The Lord allowed Solomon to explore every corner of life so that we could learn from his findings and not waste our own years searching for answers that have already been given. We don’t need to spend our energy chasing the next trend, dabbling in this or that, or looking for joy in places that will always come up empty. Solomon makes it plain: if your aim is simply to try everything this world offers, you’re wasting your time.
Here’s the truth—Solomon didn’t have what you and I have. He didn’t have the Spirit of Jesus Christ living inside him. No wonder he felt something was missing—because something was missing. His testimony was meant to reveal how empty life becomes when our relationship with God is not the central focus. And this is where transformation begins for us. The next step is recognizing that what you truly need can’t be found in possessions, experiences, or human achievements. Only God can provide it.
We live on the other side of the cross. Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the Spirit who fills, sustains, and satisfies us in ways the world never can. What Solomon longed for, we have right now—the presence of God dwelling in us, making life meaningful and full.
A Willingness to Surrender and Be Transformed
Our Heavenly Father desires that we spend our lives pursuing Him, because He has already pursued us with everything He has. He poured out mercy and grace, gave His only begotten Son as our Redeemer, Savior, and Lord, and placed His Spirit within us as Teacher, Comforter, and Guide. Through Christ, the Father has wooed us with love beyond measure.
So when the rich young ruler addressed Jesus as “Good Teacher,” Jesus corrected him: “No one is good except God alone.” In essence, He was saying, “You don’t really see Me. I am not just a teacher—I am God in the flesh. I alone can forgive sins and give eternal life.” The young man came willing to be taught, but not willing to be transformed. And that unwillingness cost him everything.
This is where many of us stumble too. We want the blessing, but not the surrender. We want the wisdom, but not the change. Yet life was never meant to be lived on our own terms. It was created by God to find its fullest expression in His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s why 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT) tells us, “You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Continued blessing flows from continual growth. Transformation means less of self and more of Him—less flesh, more Spirit; less performance, more surrender. Without this willingness to be transformed, we risk walking away from Christ still clinging to our old life, just as the rich young ruler did.
You Must Desire Intimacy in Your Relationship with God
The young rich man had done well at keeping the Mosaic laws that governed how he treated people, but intimacy with God was missing. Jesus saw the real issue—this man’s heart was bound to his possessions. In Mark 10:21 (NLT), Jesus told him, “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But the man couldn’t do it. His wealth had a stronger hold on him than his desire for God. Grieved, he walked away from the very One who could give him eternal life.
The same danger confronts us today. God hears our prayers for blessing, breakthrough, and peace. Yet He also calls us to release the very behaviors, thoughts, and desires that keep us bound to the flesh. Too often, like the rich man, we resist. We want more from God, but we won’t let go of what’s standing between us and Him. Intimacy with God requires that we put Him first, above possessions, above pride, above our old ways of thinking. Until we desire Him more than we desire what we’re clinging to, true intimacy will remain out of reach.
Take Up the Cross and Die to Self
In Mark 10:21 (NKJV), Jesus said, “Take up the cross, and follow Me.” Taking up the cross of Christ is the true treasure of life. But this command has often been misunderstood. Many assume their “cross” is some personal burden they must endure—sickness, hardship, or difficulty. Yet in Matthew 11:28 (NLT), Jesus makes it plain: He is our burden-bearer. So what did Jesus mean?
In biblical times, when someone carried a cross, it meant one thing: death. The cross was a device of execution, painful and humiliating, reserved for the worst criminals. To “take up the cross” meant carrying the very instrument of your own death. In the same way, Jesus calls us to die—not physically, but spiritually. To take up the cross is to die to self: to let go of worry, doubt, fear, insecurity, and every tie to the old sinful nature. It is a daily decision to lay down the old life so that Christ’s life can be revealed in us.
Ephesians 2:1–6 (NLT) says it clearly:
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”
The Beauty of a Transformed Life
This is the beauty of the cross: when we die to self, we become fully alive in Him. The old nature is gone, and the new nature in Christ takes over. Taking up the cross isn’t about carrying a burden—it’s about surrendering your life so that His resurrection life can flow through you.
Because of Christ, we have new life! The old life of sin is gone, and it must stay crucified. Now is the time to shift our thinking, our speaking, our feeling, and our doing, because we carry a new nature—the nature of Christ. Our Redeemer told Philip in John 14:9 (NLT), “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?”
The “Good Teacher” is more than a teacher—He is God in the flesh. He is good all the time, and His goodness is what transforms us. If we will renew our minds to God’s Word and surrender to His Spirit, He will take our broken lives and shape them into something beautiful, something that reflects His glory.
Reflection and Soul Work
- What old ways of thinking, speaking, or living do I still need to leave at the cross?
- How is Christ calling me to walk more fully in my new nature today?
- Do I see Him as only a “Good Teacher,” or am I living as if He is Lord of all?
Prayer
Dear Father God, thank You for giving me new life in Christ. Forgive me for the times I’ve held on to my old ways instead of surrendering to Your Spirit. Help me to crucify the old nature daily, and teach me to walk in the fullness of the new life You’ve given me. Open my eyes to see Jesus for who He truly is—my Lord, my Redeemer, my God. Transform me by Your Word until my life reflects Your glory. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, I pray, amen.■
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Jesus Christ Will Transform Your Life!”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.