Confusion

Usually around the age of 16, our teens have learned to drive. Most of them upon the bruised egos of their parents. Also usually, they have learned in their parent’s vehicle.

Whether it is a suburban family sedan or our country pickup trucks, the pedals are in basically the same place. That makes it fairly simple to transfer the driver’s knowledge from one vehicle to another.

Most of the time.

Recently, I drove my husband’s pickup truck. The pedals were in the same place as in my Cruiser, but the gearshift, windshield wipers, lights, etc. were not. As the rain started, my attention was diverted to finding the wipers.

This same distraction is covered in a recent MSNBC article. Confusion combined with unexpected acceleration becomes a lethal combination.

I believe the same is true when someone determines that “You are really saved, if …” and then adds something more than is laid out in the Bible.

Paul, a stickler for detail, gave a simple answer to a complex question.

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)

Jesus was just as concise in His answer.

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Just as it took thousands of years to reach the completion of God’s plan of salvation, there are many complex issues involved in living within God’s will. We’ve been given a manual with answers for those questions. Our problems ensue when we add to those biblical answers.

“Yes, we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, by God’s grace. But if you’re really saved you’ll …” What? Through which hoop must one jump to be considered saved?

It is important to consider, for we are witnesses for Christ. Our testimony must be biblically factual. To do so, Bible study is necessary. We must always be beam inspectors before inspecting motes:

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. (Luke 6:41-42 KJV)

Just remember: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV)