Pastor John,
You pointed out something this morning that really stayed with me. You made it clear why Jesus had to come here and die to purchase the holy Ghost for us. The reason was this: Obeying rules perfectly, even rules God gave (such as the law), is not enough. Satan obeyed to the letter what God told him to do before he was cast out of heaven, and he was a mess, in his soul. Rather, we must be like God, where our obedience is really nothing more than our nature.
It makes me think, even the seas obeyed the word of the Lord when He commanded them to be still. The trees and the grass yield themselves to him every time the wind blows. Raindrops fall upon his command. All things in nature obey God, and yet, none of these things are holy. None of them will reign with the Son of God because none of them have been made like God by the Spirit.
One last thought. It is always so, that after we have done all that we can do, it is what God does that makes the difference.
Jerry