You Can't Have It Your Way!

I pray you spend this week in thought of what our Lord and Savior has done for us all.

I received a phone call early one Sunday morning and a person asked, “How long will your service last, and do you serve the Lord’s Supper first or last?” It struck me that they were probably traveling, and a sinister thought crossed my mind, they were looking for their “crackers and grape juice” to go. Many are demanding today that we be quick and convenient. It seems that many religious leaders are taking the Burger King approach: “Have it your way!” But we are not a hamburger stand. We are the body of Christ. It is tempting to apply the fast food approach, but it would be deadly to the church. Like drive-thru wedding chapels, I have heard of some offering a drive-thru service where one can get the Lord’s Supper on their way to go fishing. Will we eventually have home delivery, “Hold the lettuce, hold the pickles?” Some in the church want to “hold the water” in salvation. “Hold the preaching – shorten the service!” “Hold the doctrine!” “Hold the singing!” You can’t “hold” anything God’s Word requires for proper worship. We hear some crying, “Change! Adapt! Conform or die!” We must not panic because we do not do the business that a hamburger stand does. We are not in the economic growth business. When it comes to growth we are in the business of saving souls by preaching and teaching the Good News, the gospel of Christ. We are to sow it as seed throughout the world, plant and water it with sound truth from God’s Word, the Bible, and God will make it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).We are not in the people pleasing business – we are in the God pleasing business – whether people are pleased or not. Until we can convince the world that it is sick with sin, lost and dying, and that Jesus is the only hope, men will continue to criticize God’s system.

[Acts 20:28; Matthew 27:39-43] When Jesus was crucified there were some who mocked by challenging him to “come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!” Of course, Jesus had the power to accept their challenge. He could have called legions of angels to rescue him (Matthew 26:53-54). However, we should thank God and rejoice that Jesus did not accept the challenge of the people who wanted it their way. If Jesus had come down from the cross there would be no forgiveness of sins. Before Jesus went to the cross he said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26: 28). We could never be free from the guilt, shame, and damning consequences of sin if Jesus had come down from the cross. If Jesus had come down from the cross there would be no church. The blood Jesus shed on Calvary makes it possible for one to be saved from sin. Simply, the blood of Jesus shed on Calvary makes it possible for one to become a member of the New Testament church. According to the Scriptures, every sinner who receives forgiveness is added, by God, to the New Testament church (Acts 2:36-47). This would not be possible without Jesus’ death on the cross. If Jesus had come down from the cross there would be no reconciliation (Romans 5:9-11). To reconcile means “to bring back a former state of harmony.” Every person who has committed even one sin (Romans 3:23) needs to be brought back to a former state of harmony with God. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). We cannot justify our earthly life to warrant eternal life (Luke 16:13-15). Even our Lord knew it was best to not have it his way, but that the will of his Father must be fulfilled (Luke 22:41-42).