Before We Get Gathered
Number 8: November 30, 2005
There is a famous radio commentator who uses the line, “Now you know the rest of the story.” This is also true when it comes to Christianity. Most of us maintain certain beliefs which we unthinkingly accept as true without checking them against the truth of the Word of God. When we find ourselves acting in this mechanical fashion, we must slow down, take inventory of our mental patterns, and see if our beliefs are in agreement with the Word of God. We need to make sure we really understand the accuracy of the story to start with, and continue over time, to check our thinking that we have not strayed from God’s truth to what the world accepts as truth.
II Timothy 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We, as Christians, are to study God’s Word and to rightly divide it, so as to give testimony of the faith of Jesus Christ that is in us. We accept the authority of the Word of God as the basis of our beliefs and actions. We then act according to what the Bible says, not according to what we think it ought to say. We change to reflect it. It is the rulebook for life; not our feelings or experiences.
At times, this is not as simple as we would like it to be. It may take some time and effort to understand what the Word of God really says concerning certain subjects. Manners and customs of the day and time may hinder our understanding, or mistranslations. Sometimes what we have been taught already clouds the truth of God’s Word. Pictures or videos that we have seen may interfere with what the written Word accurately says. There are times when we just don’t get it. We don’t quite understand what is being said. Even Jesus’ disciples had that problem.
John 11:11-15:
These things said he: and after that he [Jesus] saith unto them [his disciples], Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Our efforts should be directed to being honest workman, trying to rightly divide God’s Word to the best of our abilities; then to live it and teach others. We are not to become lazy and just rest on what we think we know. Our minds like to take the path of least resistance. It takes sustained effort and honesty to remain true to what God would have us to do, that is, to continue to rightly divide His Word in order to live a more abundant life. There are many places where God exhorts us to remember His simple promises or not to forget what He has done for us. We will be rewarded for all eternity for our honest, loving action, which is in reality, the rest of His story.