Think About It

by David Dowell

Have you thoughtfully considered the purpose for the lines in the middle of the road on a highway? Those lines are painted there for our safety. When we drive, we are able to use the entire highway, but our destination and direction determine which lane we primarily travel. It is our "rule of life" to stay in the allowed lanes, even though we are permitted on occasions such as passing to go into other lanes. But after we pass another vehicle, we must promptly return to our original lane.

Just as not obeying the marked boundaries on a highway could be disastrous, so also could not obeying the "marked boundaries" in scripture. Did you realize that God "drew lines" for you in His Holy Word? He made distinctions between "the lane in which you drive" and "the lane in which you pass." God's divisions in the Bible give you knowledge and understanding. Recognizing them will dispel confusion as you find conflicting passages (i.e. Matt. 6:14-15 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" makes forgiveness conditional upon what you do. But Eph. 4:32 ....forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake HATH forgiven you" contrasts that by making forgiveness unconditional in the past tense based upon the fact that Christ died for our sins. It is already done.)

God directs us through the apostle Paul writing to Timothy, a young pastor, in 2 Tim. 2:15 (" Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth") to divide his Word the right, proper way. Just what is that way? God graciously tells us that, too. His method is quite simple, and is found in Eph. 2:11, 2, and 3 "times past" (that's the past when there was a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile), Eph. 2:13 and 19 "but now" (that's the present when there is NO difference between Jew and Gentile), and Eph. 2:7 "the ages to come" (that's the future when the church, 'the body of Christ,' has been raptured into heaven an d the Lord Jesus Christ returns to establish His millennial kingdom with Israel on the earth). When these divisions are acknowledged, and you realize that Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles - Rom. 11:3) has the revelation for the church today, then you 're driving in the right lane. You'll have "confidence behind the wheel" as you drive in your section of the Word. You still need to read, study, and team from the whole Word of God as instructed in 2 Tim. 3:16 (All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. for instruction in righteousness"). Just discern the differences God gave you.

Last summer our family took a trip south. We had quite a long drive, and to avoid afternoon rush hour traffic, we decided to take a shorter route around a much smaller city. The atlas we were using showed the main highway we were traveling to go directly through the town's center. The alternate course was either not clearly marked or we failed to notice the road signs, and we somehow got on a loop that circled the entire metropolis. After we finally realized we were driving the loop, we exited several times trying to get headed in the right direction. Each attempt proved unsuccessful and we wasted nearly three hours on the wrong roads. We were all very tired and frustrated. Eventually, we found the correct road, but were embarrassed that we had been so mixed up, even while reading a map.

Likewise, many people read their Bible and are still just as confused as our family was in the story I just told. They listen to sermons with conflicting messages, and yet say "Amen" to both sides. They have no explanation for clashing instructions in God's Word, so they resign themselves to feeling like they can't understand t he Bible. They are embarrassed by their lack of knowledge, but figure that it's only for the educated, intellectual scholars to understand. We who know how to rightly divide have the answer for these perplexed friends. We can point them in the right direction by caring enough to explain to them the basic differences in the scriptures. Comprehending the fundamental distinctions in the three dispensations go a long way to helping folks "stay in the marked boundaries" and keep in their own lane. That's when n you'll find the "comfort of the scriptures " (Rom. 15:4) which bring hope, and you'll be "approved unto God" (2 Tim. 2:15).

This is David Dowell, saying "Think About It!"