Wednesday, April 27, 2016

The Christian Life without Understanding



Romans 10:5-13

If the first time you flew in a airplane it was just you and a pilot, and you were trusting your life to his knowledge and experience of flying that plane and the pilot had the big one and left planet earth and it is now you and a dead earthsuit flying at 20,000 feet.  You are very ignorant about planes, but you had put all your trust in a person with the ability to fly and now it is just you, poor ignorant you, your smart, you have a MBA and your degree is from the best University but you are still oblivious to how to fly, much less the controls, switches, and lights on the panels.

That analogy of flying a plane without knowledge and living the Christian life without understanding of the Manufacturers Handbook on living life on planet earth has much similarity.  You had no need for knowledge about flying until the emergency hit; death of the one you trusted to keep you safe.  With the pilot’s death came the reality of misguided trust, your trust was in the life of the pilot, with the abilities of successfully flying the aircraft, and how you are in a crises mode, the one you trusted is not going to be able to deliver.  That holds true for everyone who has misguided trust; so Christians how do we get into these disasters?  A high percent of those who go by the name Christian know only what someone else has told them, a preacher, or teacher, maybe you are one of those and your real faith is in yourself, in your job, 401K, retirement fund, in the church you attend, or maybe your family ties; but not in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Now that sounds mean spirited of me, or anyone to point out that you are ignorant when it comes to walking by faith, listening to the Holy Spirit the One Jesus told us would lead us into all truth, but trust me it is an act of kindness if you grasp your flying through life without a pilot, and Jesus made it very clear in John 16:33, I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Tribulation is part of life, the loss of a child or mate, the loss of income, the backstabbing of a dear friend, or the feeling of loss, yes in the world we will experience evil.

One Thursday morning on my way to meet with Paul and share time in the Word of God, this thought came into my mind; “Bob how can the Helper help you if you have not hidden God’s Word in your heart and mind.  As we look in Romans 10:5-13, you will see that the Law of Moses required 100% participation in obedience.  But the righteousness based on faith says, the following: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  

It was not your abilities or your actions, it is all what Jesus Christ has done, it is finished and He has extended both grace and faith to you, but remember this is not the end but the beginning of life, now and eternal, so begin in the Gospel of John and learn how to trust Jesus for this day with all it’s tribulation and blessing.  Jesus is the pilot you have been searching for He will guide you into all truth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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