It's Mark 12 verses 28 - 34.
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
This man of so much knowledge of scripture, who understood the religious law and lived a life of a 'holy' standard as they saw according to that law of Moses. He heard Jesus teach of marriage and honesty and integrity and he saw that the things Jesus taught was right. Yep. Everything Jesus said was 100% right. Perhaps disagreeable depending on what religious perspective a person had (much like our "denominations" today Sadducees and Pharisees and so on had slightly different views on the same law) but Jesus knew the law and fulfilled it, and so was able to discuss it and explain in from beyond the law itself. ANYWAY. This man heard saw the Sadducees throw curveballs at Jesus, and watched him knock every one of 'em out of the park. He saw so much truth in the Christ. So it was his turn. Asks that bomb of a question- what commandment is most important?
Jesus quotes the verse that is the essence of the life of surrender to God. To put him first in everything we are and do and say and think and feel. To love him above all else with your entire heart, mind, strength, and soul. Not only this but to also put others before yourself, living selflessly to let others see God's light in your life. Before even this, Jesus reminds the gathered intently listening crowd that there is only one God- only one- the Lord of Israel, and that He is Whole. The man hears Jesus and is just his biggest fan. 'Like wow, Jesus dude you are SO RIGHT.' What's more, is that it seems this guy has a new- testament understanding of this kind of surrender. He gets that loving God first, and loving your neighbour before yourself is more important than all the good deeds and atonement we try to offer for ourselves to make right between us and God. And it's funny. Well, I say funny but it's actually more sad than anything because of how common a story this is. Then and now equally. This gentleman stood before the only one who could save him with all this knowledge and understanding and Jesus had to look him in the face and tell him that even with all of this it still wasn't enough. It didn't matter how much he 'got it', how much the theories made sense to him. Knowledge was close but not close enough.
The fact of the matter is we are faced with the truth. We come face to face with the prospect of saving grace. We hear it in church, read it on tracts, scroll past it on Facebook. Some people manipulate it, but at the source truth will always be Truth. That the only way to heaven is through salvation in Christ; trusting he is the Risen Saviour, Lord of all with the power over sin and death and surrender to let him use your life.
You can know God but never truly have that relationship with him. You can know all about salvation but never truly experience true submission. And it's without taking that step closer than we start to realise perhaps you just are not close enough. You are not far. Maybe you're on that tipping point of trying to figure out exactly what you 'feel' about this Jesus stuff. Or you've been at church your whole life and are so used to hearing about it but haven't fully understood the importance of a personal relationship with God, of hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. You are not far. Seek God for yourself and don't wait for someone else to try and convince you to choose one way or another. Just choose Jesus. Choose knowing him for yourself and not just knowing about him or what he did 2000+ years ago. Let him show you what he does today when he takes a life and uses it for his glory.
You know the King. Well you know who he is. You've heard the stories, read the articles. You could rhyme off verses and sing all the kids songs. You're standing in the foyer looking at family photos, admiring the wallpaper, hanging about outside but he's calling you to come on in. Come into the throne room, come into his presence. To share in his most personal place and to talk and get to know him personally and deeper than ever before. What an invitation. Don't turn it down to hang out in the foyer. Come in to the soft carpets and luxurious sofas. Come into the throne room of grace and bask in his joy as he sings over you.
Hear the gospel, know the truth and pursue the Father. There is no other way; no deeds, no knowledge. Just Jesus. Don't be close to the kingdom- find yourself in it.