The other day, while I was picking some things up at Wal-Mart, I bought a jug of oil and an oil filter because I knew it was time for an oil change in my car. This weekend, I finally had the time to do the change, so I pulled my car into my oil-changing spot and started the job. After I had the oil drained and had removed the old filter, I pulled out the new filter. Now, when I pulled out the filter, I noticed that something was different. I always buy Fram oil filters, which are orange and have black grippy stuff painted on the end. This filter, although in a Fram box, was blue and lacking the grippy stuff. As I took a look at the filter, I noted that instead of a Fram filter, I had an AC Delco filter. Being a different brand, it also had a different part number. It appeared to be the same shape and size, but I wasn't sure that it was the right one for my car. Somebody had evidently swapped them out at the store, paying for the AC Delco box and taking home the Fram filter. I couldn't run to Wal-Mart to replace the filter because my car had no oil, filter, or plug. We ended up cross-referencing the numbers and found that it was OK for my car, so I finished the change, washed the car, and put it away. But it got me to thinking. I bought that filter based on the outside of the box. I never even thought to open the box to check to see if the stuff inside matched the label on the outside. I determined what I had based on the label, when in fact something different was inside. As I thought about it, this has happened before, where something is labeled one way, but you get something else.
Like it or not, we all have a label (or many labels). Today I want to take a look at the times when our labels (or someone else's labels) are inconsistent and don't line up with what's inside. Do we have a "label" calling ourselves "Christians", yet somethings inside our hearts or in our lives don't line up? Are things inconsistent? Does everybody remember those little stickers that used to be on computers that said, "Intel Inside"? My friend had a sticker that said, "Jesus Inside", and I think I've seen the same thing as a t-shirt. So, I could go around wearing this label that says, "Jesus Inside", but maybe something in my heart is inconsistent with that label. Do you see how it is important to have more than just a label on the outside, but to also have consistent righteousness inside? (The Jesus Inside label is true for my friend, btw)
I also want to look at the inconsistent packaging from another angle. What about someone else's inconsistent label? Now, I'm not talking about judging someone else's heart. It clearly says in the Bible not to judge. What I'm talking about is having discernment towards a pastor, teacher, ministry, book, another persons opinions, etc. Perhaps you are reading a book or a devotional. It has a "label" that says that it is a Christian book or that it is portraying ideas from the Bible. You need to check it out with the Word and pray about it to see if it really does or if it is off base. What about a sermon that you might hear. You can download hours and hours worth of sermons from the Internet to listen to, but what if some or many of them are a little bit twisted from what the Bible says? They are packaged as "This is what the Lord says..." but they may have inconsistent packaging!!! You need to be able to discern right and wrong with these things that claim to be the Word of God. I may say something in my lesson that isn't accurate. You need to check these things out with the Bible and see for yourself that it is true. If you find something to be in error, you need to come to me, take me aside, and point it out. We can then study it out, pray about it, and if I was in error, then we'll bring it to everyone's attention so that people are not led astray! If it was just something that you misunderstood or were wrong about, then you'll have to accept that and receive the truth! When we listen to a sermon or lesson, when we read a book or printed message, or when we view religious material on-line, we need to discern whether or not this really is consistent the the Word of God (as it says on the label). Along those, lines, people may come to us and tell us that what we are hearing from this ministry is not consistent with the Word. Well, let us use the same means to discern the teachings of this ministry. Perhaps the naysayers are correct. We need to know for sure. If we check it out and find it to be consistent with the Word of God, then we can rest assured that we are receiving the pure Word of God, as advertised.
Acts 17:10-13
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
Jude 3-4
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment