Dying with All the Facts and Figures

 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” I Tim. 6:6-7

Most men and women live out their lives with faith in the material realm only.  They believe firmly in money and “things” and fleshly appetites, and their trust is in other people who deal in money and things and fleshly appetites.  And their time is spent rehearsing the facts and figures that pertain to these material things.

But when such people come to the end, on the brink of death, possessions and all the facts and figures that go with them are really emptiness.  In those last days, facing the great beyond, we are alone – just us and our Maker.  The facts will do us no good.  It is a great pity.  Nothing will be of value then EXCEPT our relationship to HIM!

But what is an even greater pity is that many “Church of Christ” members will come to the grave in a similar shape.  They will have all the facts right.  They will have their “ducks in a row” as far as checking off the “five step plan”.  They will have ties to the church roll and the church building, and maybe even attend the church services and praise the preacher.  But they wont KNOW their Maker!   They have not walked with Him as His humble servant, as His obedient child transformed into HIS character.  They have not shined the light of the glory of Jesus Christ in their daily living.  In other words, they don't really “walk by faith”.

Please note that explaining God’s plan of redemption - giving the correct “formula” for it, quoting book, chapter and verse for it - IS NOT the same thing as experiencing the redemption based on faith in Jesus Christ, and the fellowship with the Father that it brings.  Many men can talk about the basis for salvation, and even debate about it, without entering into the relationship with God in Jesus Christ that transforms the life!  CORRECT VIEWS AND RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT THE SAME THING!

If our religion consists of knowing the right facts and “proving” to others that we know them, we will draw others to the wrong thing!  If they are not drawn by the power of the cross to change lives, evidenced in our “godliness and contentment” - our own humble and holy walk with God, it is not the gospel of Christ!

“A great danger in the church is that the experience of conversion to Christ is relayed in a formula of explanation; other men, learning the formula, suppose they possess the experience.”  [modified from a quote by Jim McGuiggan].