Jump Start # 3881
1 Timothy 1:3 “As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines.”
NOTE: Next week, Jump Starts are taking the week off. Lord willing, we will be back on August 11th. You can visit our Jump Start website (Jumpstartsdaily.com) and find over 3800 posted blogs from the past.
These past few weeks I have been doing a lot of driving and by the end of the day I’m feeling road weary. Louisiana, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and by the time you read this, Nashville are several of the places I’ve been to in the past couple of weeks. Driving can be fun, but it also can be very dangerous. Some drive as if they are living in a video game. In and out of lanes, riding the bumper of the car in front of them, driving fast, passing dangerously, and trying to squeeze in at the last possible moment although signs had warned them for a long time that their lane was ending. When I first started to drive, my mom would say, get in your lane and stay there. I can still hear her saying that. And, for the most part, I still do that.
However, jumping in and out of lanes is not only the way some drive, it is also the way that some approach the Scriptures. Chasing new ideas, holding on to the latest fads, switching what they believe, back and forth, leaving not only the person confused but all who know them. In the lane of truth, then jumping into the lane of emotions, then back to the lane of truth, then over to the lane of opinions, then back to the lane of truth, then over to the lane of speculation, always trying to get ahead of everyone else, wanting to be the first. I don’t recommend that in driving and it won’t work Biblically. Some are not content with the way God says things. Rather than doing what God says, they spend most of their time digging around, switching lanes, trying to find something new and exciting. The real issue is not what the Bible says, it is a heart that is not content with God. Somehow they have gotten the idea that they can find ways of doing things that God never thought of. They can do a better God than God can.
Consider the topic of grace. That seems to be the only subject that some talk about. You’d think the Bible speaks of grace on every page. It doesn’t. In fact, Jesus never spoke the word grace. The word is found four times in the Gospels about Jesus. He demonstrated grace many times. The woman caught in adultery was given grace. The story of the prodigal is a text book example of God’s grace. But, grace is a choice and a gift of God. It is what God does. And, what God does is always the best. The thrust of the N.T. is not dealing with God’s side of things, but with our side of things. Yes, we are saved by grace, not grace alone, nor grace only. Grace is God’s side of things. Our side is walking by faith. Grace through faith is how the Ephesians were taught. However, if all I do is talk about God’s side of things, then I can get a very lopsided perspective of what matters. God will do His part. He will do it very well. I need to work on my part, that’s faith. That’s trust. That’s obedience.
Switching over to the grace lane so often can leave the impression that we don’t have to concern ourselves with the little details in life. How a church functions, reasons for divorce, definition of words, fellowship, none of those things seem to matter when one is constantly switching lanes. Feel great. Have fun. The details don’t matter because we’ve got grace. And, without realizing it, we can be abusing grace and taking it for granted.
So, here are some thoughts:
First, learn to be content with what God says. Deuteronomy 29 reminds us that the secret things belong to the Lord. There are things that we do not understand. There are things we do not know. Can you live with that? Can you be satisfied with the way that God established the church and the way that God wants it to function? The church is not designed to be the world’s relief organization. It is designed to honor God and be a community of saved people who are walking with the Lord. Some want the church to do more than what the Scriptures say. Some want the purpose and the function of the church to evolve. Some want less doctrine and less rules. Some want culture to define what a church ought to do. A lot of lanes to drive in these days. Which one will you pick? Some will go back and forth. Be content with what God says.
Second, switching lanes in driving and switching lanes religiously can lead to a crash. YouTube is full of such videos. It happens in car races and it happens on the highway. Dangerously switching lanes is for someone who is impatient and only thinking of himself. He can’t wait like everyone else. He has to drive where you are not supposed to drive and then expect and even demand to squeeze in front of cars who have been in line for miles. Biblically speaking, when one is chasing the last podcast, blog, fad, he’ll likely get messed up doctrinally and swallow the poison of error without even realizing it. In time, he’ll toss in the towel religiously, proclaiming that it is all too confusing and it really doesn’t matter what you believe. The one who stays with the Word of God won’t think that way. It’s the one who is switching that will give up.
In our verse today, Timothy was to instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines. This was to be done at Ephesus. It was the Ephesian elders that Paul warned about savage wolves rising up among them to draw disciples after them. It was at Ephesus that false apostles were exposed and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans was rejected. Teach these men to stay in the lane of God’s word. Don’t be teaching strange doctrines. Strange doctrines are not from God. They will not lead to salvation. They open the door to immorality and do not please God.
Third, when those around us speak of finding new ways, a new look, a different approach to the Scriptures, don’t be swayed by that stuff. After all these years, there is not going to be anything new. Stick with what God has said. It seems that those who are bent on switching lanes doctrinally, they are not interested in study, conversations or accepting any criticism. If you don’t follow them, jumping from lane to lane, weaving in and out of traffic spiritually, then you are cut off and they want nothing to do with you. Such closed minds often lead to serious trouble.
Just the other day, I was driving, staying in my lane, my mom would be happy, and a car ahead of me was switching lanes, tail gating, driving very aggressively. We both got off on an exit and came to a stop light. He was right beside me. I looked over at him, thinking for all that you just did, here you are right beside me. It didn’t gain you anything.
Stay in your lane, bro. Stay in God’s lane.
Roger