When a rich, young ruler asks what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus doesn't tell him to pray a prayer or make a decision, but to sell his possessions and follow Him. Although it has the common elements of repentance, faith, and following Him, Jesus' message of eternal life is specific in seemingly each and every case, whether it be to the Samaritan woman at the well, Nicodemus, Zaccheus, or here to the rich young ruler. This young man may have been able to pray a prayer, but he wasn't able to follow Christ because of his great wealth. Though in earthly terms he was first, he was truly last as he walked back to his land and riches.