Are You Complying As Instructed?

 

There is an old story of the west about how cattle act in winter storms. Some storms would start with freezing rains and the temperature would plummet below zero. Then, bitter cold winds would begin to pile up huge snowdrifts. Most cattle turned their backs to the icy blasts, and they would begin to move downwind until they came up against the inevitable barbed wire fence. In the big storms, they would pile up against the fence and die by the score. But one breed always survived. Herefords would instinctively head into the wind. They would stand shoulder to shoulder, head down, facing the blasts of the wintery winds. As one cowboy put it, “I guess that’s the greatest lesson I’ve learned on the prairie – just face life’s storms.” Christians facing life’s storms together, shoulder to shoulder, encouraging one another and praying for one another, fulfill God’s formula for the abundant life. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

When it’s raining, there’s no way to fix a leaky roof, and when the sun is shining, there’s no need. We are our own worst enemy and God knows this. He tells Ezekiel that as a watchman He is holding the prophet responsible for warning the people against enemies, both physical and spiritual, and if they didn’t take precautions, then their blood was on their own heads. Even God’s people won’t heed the dangers that threaten their salvation. To the elders He addresses on His way to Jerusalem, Paul warns them to first keep watch over themselves and then over their flock to guard against the wolves that would arise from within and without. Still, God’s people won’t heed the dangers that threaten their salvation. It is no surprise then that on the eve of the Good Shephard being struck and the sheep being scattered that Jesus would warn His disciples to “watch!” He doesn’t do this to get them to escape or avoid the coming spiritual storm that was about to burst but to prepare to weather it. Do we prepare …even when the sun is shining? Or are we going to sit under a dripping roof in the midst of a storm and cuss the rain? Are you watching? A big storm is coming!

[John 14:15] “Non-Compliant” … That’s the word that was written on his medical chart a few years ago. On one visit he happened to see it and asked why it was there. The nurse told him it was there because he was not complying with the instructions the doctor was giving him. You see, his sugar levels were not coming down and his cholesterol levels weren’t either. Although he took the medicine prescribed, he hadn’t started eating better. Should he have been surprised? He paid the doctor money but then wouldn’t follow his educated advice. Non-compliance is not limited to doctors and their patients. We see it everywhere! Speed limits are exceeded. Zoning laws are ignored. Students disregard the instructions of their teachers. And sadly, God’s unchanging Word is challenged, rewritten, or just plain ignored. The Lord’s commandments are good for us whether we understand them or not. When God’s Word conflicts with our life what do we do? Do we quit reading the Bible or tear a page out because it goes against the way we are living? Or do we repent and say, “Not my will, but Your will be done, Father.” God saw us dying in our sin and sent the “Great Physician” as our cure. Jesus has the right to make the rules and regulations of our salvation. “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Can one go to heaven while being non-compliant to Jesus and His Word? The obvious is NO! Just being a good person won’t get one to heaven. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Luke 6:46). Obeying God is full compliance.