KEEP IT SIMPLE Larry W. Peebles July 29, 2018 18.18
“This is not difficult, but it is detailed.” My boss had just said something quite profound. He was speaking to me regarding the operations of our homebuilding company. In my local area, I was responsible for all those operations, including sales, construction, service, and financial results. Our local division of the company was one of the largest in the nation. In our best year before I retired, the division operated at a level of eleven homes per day. That translated to an average of eleven homes sold, started, finished, and closed with a customer each working day of the year. It was a giant production line; however, the production occurred not in a factory, but in the open elements, subject to all types of weather- rain, heat and cold. Each day the employees and managers of the division took the necessary action to ensure the details of every sale, construction activity, bill payment, service request, government permit for new construction, and closing were accomplished. With systems, reports and communication in place and well-managed, it was not too difficult, but it was detailed. It succeeded because of the efforts of dedicated employees and subcontractors who believed in the goals we had laid before them. We sought to build a home of superior quality, reduce the number of service requests after closing, and enjoy a relationship with satisfied customers who felt quite good about their purchase. This simplified everyone’s life, and made the work atmosphere enjoyable.
I often think of this statement about being detailed but not difficult when I think of the Christian faith. Jesus spoke of the faith of a child, and of a mustard seed (very small-about the size of a dot made by a lead pencil). I am convinced He did not want to make the matter of faith difficult, because faith cannot be about one’s ability to study and comprehend, or to memorize and manage the details. If it was based on brain power or ability, it would not be faith. The study of God’s word is good, and certainly The Holy Spirit is the best teacher. However, interpretations of man that result in differing theories and strains of the supposedly same faith can make the implementation of that faith more difficult than it needs to be. There is merit in keeping it simple.
That is why I enjoy going back to the Book of John in the Bible. I also recommend it as a starting point for the new believer. The Apostle John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, states a clear and simple purpose in writing the book in Chapter 20:31- “these are [this is] written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Jesus spoke and simplified our proper relationship with Him when He said the greatest commandment was “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). Then John gave simple instructions on how to do that when he quoted Jesus as saying “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). Jesus also said “a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” The relationship was to be love based. Jesus loved us so much He gave His life to correct our sinful condition and to unlock the original glory created in all of us (John 3:16). Our response in return is to love Him so much we could not bear to further disappoint by not following His commands, and to likewise love our neighbor. This is a simple explanation, and no further comment is necessary.
If more details are essential to satisfy the curious mind, John does a wonderful job with the summary provided in the first five verses of his first chapter. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5). From eternity past through today, these five verses give a picture of what has and is happening relative to Jesus, the Son of God. We will proceed by a verse or phrase at the time:
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning.” God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is an eternal Being. He existed in eternity past (“the beginning”). His indescribable power is such that what He says is. Therefore, what He says is the truth. The written Word of God is the truth. Jesus said “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). This confirms that the truth is not a philosophical concept– it is the person of Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus is God, the Son of God appearing in the flesh. He embodies all truth, and has from eternity past. His words are true. This stands in sharp contrast to the devil, the ancient enemy of God. The Bible says of the devil “there is no truth in Him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks in his native tongue, for he is a liar, and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).
- “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” This statement speaks of Jesus (the Son of God) as not only being present at the Creation of the world, but also His role as the Creator. While this goes back to the original Creation, it is also on-going and true today as Creation continues to grow and evolve according to the plan of the Master Designer. People and things that have existed previously only in the mind of God are being spoken into existence today. Each of us existed in the mind of God from eternity past before we were spoken into Creation in the realm of natural existence. As Creator, He spoke things into existence using nothing except His words. Conversely, nothing exists that was not created by Him.
- “In Him was life.” He is the giver of all life. All life originates from Him. Sickness and death does not come from Him. According to John 10:10, where the devil has come “ to kill, steal, and destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” In John 14:6, Jesus says He is [I AM] the life. Because of the sin condition of the world, death may come to our physical body. However, because of Jesus and through our faith in Him, our spirit lives on into eternity, and is reunited with our glorified body.
- “The life was the light of men.” Not only does Jesus bring life, He brings light. Living things require light. The two are closely associated. Living things prefer life and light over death and darkness. The life and light of Jesus stand in stark contrast to the death and darkness associated with the present reign of this world by the devil. That reign will end, and John gives those details in his Book of Revelations. Jesus said- “I AM the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12). A little light will dispel or overcome darkness, but the reverse is not true. Who could possibly prefer walking through life in the darkness? There are those who have become accustomed to the dark, and do not realize there is light and life available to them. While adjustments and changes would have to be made, is it not ultimately better to walk in the light? Walking in the dark long enough will result in blindness. In Mark 8:8, the Bible describes this condition where men “have eyes, but they do not see.”
- “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Relatively few acknowledged Jesus when He walked the earth. For a variety of reasons, many rejected Him. They did not get it. He did not look like they thought He should look, say what they thought He should say, or do what they thought He should do. Many would not believe unless they saw a miracle, and many saw miracles yet did not believe. He was all about relationship, and chastised those who were all about religion. He placed a premium on matters of the heart, and rejected tradition and conventional thinking. Though often misunderstood and unappreciated, He and a small band of believers started a revolution that would change the world.
But the day is coming when He will no longer be ignored. In Philippians 2:10-11, we read- “that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” When that day comes, everyone will get it. Every knee means every knee, and everyone will bow before Him. Heaven help those who reject Him at that point, as their salvation will never come.
We live in a time when the world needs a revival, one that is beyond anything that has ever been seen. There have been major revivals in the history of man to be sure. There have been major revivals in the United States in my life-time. Imagine the breadth and depth of a revival that would drive back the darkness and prepare the world to bend the knee to Jesus’ coming. This revival would need to be of such magnitude that no one could say they didn’t know. He is simply the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. (Revelations 19:16). He created everything, and continues to light the way and bring life. He speaks only the Truth, and is completely reliable and dependable. We love and revere Him for who He is and what He has done. My prayer is that revival will begin soon.
