Sept. 20, 2006
Throughout our time in school, work, and in most chores in life formulas are followed to complete a task or achieve a desired result.
While taking chemistry in college I remember spending countless hours in stoichiometry, studying chemical formulas and the process of writing down the base elements of some chemical compounds. There was a formula for it that made it much easier.
The same is true even in journalism. In order to have some consistency in our stories we follow guidelines set forth by the Associated Press which keeps us from having to learn a different set of rules for every person writing a story. It's a formula — a ritual.
After a time of working with a formula and performing a ritual over and over — it becomes second nature and we forget to pay attention to the details and it starts to lose some of its meaning.
The same can be said of our relationship with God. The thing is, the actions we take in "worshipping" God isn't nearly as important as if our heart is devoted to God.
"Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them." — Jeremiah 15:19.
At the time, Jeremiah was beset by many enemies inside Israel and he asked God for help and deliverance from those who were plotting against him because of his prophecies about Israel's immanent demise. At the same time, Jeremiah was worried about the fate of his beloved Judah and Jerusalem and he wanted God to spare it.
God told Jeremiah he would answer his prayers, but that sincerity and devotion was what he wanted from his servant — not empty rituals.
So much of the time we claim to be devoting to God is spent in empty ritual. Sure, we go to church and sing praises to him, and pray the same words to Him over and over saying we do it all for God's glory. If the songs are not sung out of heart-felt devotion to our risen Savior; if we go to church merely to let other see we go to church and if we only pray because it is expected of us then why do it?
“He (Jesus) replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” — Mark 7:6-8
We may attend Sunday School and worship services, and we hear the teacher or preacher quote Acts 16:29-31 "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.'"
There we have it. The crux which the salvation of all must rest upon, the belief in Jesus Christ. For those searching for an easy way, a formula has been presented. All we have to do is acknowledge God right?
Belief is a testy subject. As humans with reasoning minds we believe in and come to accept a lot of things. We believe the sun will come up in the mornings. We believe when we open the refrigerator a little light will shine. We see these things and we expect them to happen.
Belief in Jesus goes far beyond that according to James, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." — James 2:19.
We are to be devoted to Christ in all things — that is our calling. There are many out there who attend services and programs; sign pledges or covenants to do or not to do certain things — that's great, but unless there is a sense of abandonment before God then those actions are just empty.
The ancient Israelites are prime examples of putting ritual before devotion.
"But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." — 1 Samuel 15:22
Then again, hundreds of years later, after Israel had split and Samaria had strayed far from God, the people of Judah were burning incense and sacrificing to idols yet still trying to offer sacrifices to God in the temple.
"'The multitude of your sacrifices — what are they to me?' says the Lord. 'I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.'"
Formulas don't work. Actions don't get you into heaven; acknowledging there is a God does not get you into heaven — Satan acknowledges that.
What gets you into the kingdom of God? — being broken at the foot of the cross.
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." — Colossians 2:13-15
Our sins were nailed to the cross and the blood of Christ washed over us and made us pure before God.
This is what Jesus in his eternal power did for us. Be grateful we don't have to follow a formula or a guidebook to reach God — we can't live up to God's standards.
Not communion, not charismatic acts, not going to church every time the doors open will allow you to enter His kingdom — just uncompromising love for our merciful Savior allows us to reach our final goal.
Giving your life over to Christ Jesus; becoming broken at the cross; confessing your sins to him and making him Lord of your life — that is how we attain our everlasting security.
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