Picking The World’s Strongest Lock

In 1818, a man by the name of Jeremiah Chubb patented an extraordinary lock called the “Detector.”  Chubb’s “Detector” locks were considered to be the strongest in the world.  What made this lock so impregnable was a unique anti-picking lever that tripped the bolt if a thief lifted any of the lock’s six levers too high.  Many tried to defeat this lock and failed.  One notorious picklock was even offered a pardon if he could crack a “Detector” lock.  After trying and failing he testified that “these locks were the most secure he had ever met with, and did not think it possible for any man to pick or open them with any false instruments whatever” (Slate.com).  Not even the master locksmiths who made the locks were able to pick it. 

One day Charles Hobbs, an American locksmith, showed up and boldly promised that he could pick the lock.  Several were intrigued by the invitation and gathered into a small room containing a vault and a “Detector” lock.  Hobbs produced a few small tools and began working on the locked vault.  After twenty-five minutes, all in the room heard a click and the Chubb lock was opened.  A man asked Hobbs to do it again.  It only took seven minutes to repeat the task.  With this, the world’s strongest lock had been beaten for the first time.

No matter how advanced locks become, it always seems like there is someone who finds a way to break in.  There are some locks, however, that no person has ever been able to open.  These aren’t physical locks but ones kept deep inside ourselves.  These are the locks hidden away in our hearts that contain terrible sins and secrets.

Even though some sins will never be let out of people’s personal vaults, this doesn’t mean they will remain secret.  Our God is not ignorant of the sins we hide or commit in secret.  As Hebrews 4:13 clearly reveals, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”  Even more terrifying is the fact that all transgressions will one day be exposed.  Luke 8:17 says, “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

A day is coming when no secrets will be locked up inside of us.  It would be incredibly wise of us to open up our sin vaults and get them cleaned out through repentance (2 Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38).  Certainly it’s better to clean out our secret vaults now than to have them opened up by God on the Judgment Day (Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

HELPING YOUR OPPONENT WIN

Neal Pollard

Those within professional golf did not raise an eyebrow, though some outside observers found the gesture baffling.  Before the just completed WGC-Cadillac Championship tournament at Doral, Florida, Steve Stricker helped Tiger Woods work on his putting game.  While Stricker's putting was the best in the tournament, Tiger's was second-best.  The improved putting helped Woods to the victory.  While no one will feel sorry for poor Stricker, who finished second to Woods and nabbed a purse of $869,852.94, Woods by winning pocketed $1,441,176.47.  Once you have finished staggering at such incredible "earnings," consider the magnanimity of Stricker.  He helped his opponent win.

While you do not hear of that very often among those in the world, the Bible commands Christians to do that every day.  Certainly, Jesus shows the attitude a Christian ought to take in his or her relationships with those from the world he calls "opponents" (Mat. 5:25; Lk. 12:58).  Paul says that the Christian, through soundness of speech, can put the opponent to shame (Ti. 2:8).  But, listen to what Jesus says later on in the Sermon on the Mount.  It defies worldly wisdom.  

He says not to seek revenge (Mat. 5:38-39), to treat enemies charitably (Mat. 5:40-42), and to love them (Mat 5:43-47).  What He does not say here is "why" to do this, except that in doing so we "are perfect" like our heavenly Father is perfect (Mat. 5:48).  The Greek word translated perfect here means "Finished, that which has reached its end, term, limit; hence, complete, full, wanting in nothing" (WSNTDICT, elec. ed., 2000). So, the idea is of not being found wanting or lacking.

In evangelism, to be a complete, finished product as a soul-winner, we must be willing to reach out to those who are God's enemies and even those who may in some way be our "opponents."  We are seeking to help them overcome their shortcomings and reach the prize.  It is not debasing or undignified.  It does not deprive us of our prize.  It only helps add stars to our crowns.

Lost? I’m Not Lost!

An old sailor frequently got lost at sea.  Somehow his friends always managed to track him down.  Fed up with his terrible navigation skills, his friends gave him a compass and insisted he use it.  The next time he went out to sea he brought the compass with him.  Inevitably, he became lost once again.  Just like usual, his friends somehow found him and rescued him.  Annoyed and frustrated, his friends asked, “Why didn't you use the compass we gave you?  You could have saved us a lot of trouble!"  The old sailor responded, “I didn't dare to!  I wanted to go north, but as hard as I tried to make the needle aim in that direction, it just kept on pointing southeast."  This old sailor was positive he knew which way was north.  He was so sure of his sense of direction that when the compass didn’t agree with him, he stubbornly tossed it aside despite its pinpoint accuracy.

Maybe it’s because of pride or the fear of embarrassment, but we don’t like to admit when we are lost.  We don’t like to show weakness and vulnerability.  Some men have even earned reputations for their willful refusal to stop and ask for directions.  Most people who won’t ask for directions are stubborn.  They don’t like to be wrong and asking for directions is a blatant confession of mistakes.

Most people are stubborn to some degree.  Strangely, this obstinate attitude seems to multiply when people are spiritually lost.  For some reason, people blatantly refuse to admit their error on topics like religion and politics.  While getting lost is usually silly and harmless, the most serious situation is when someone is spiritually lost.

The reason the Bible was given to us was so we could find out how to get to heaven.  As a result, God included in this book everything, yes every single thing, we need for this life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible we have today came directly from God and was given to us “for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

To put it simply, the Bible must be the compass for our lives.  It determines how a person is saved (1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38), when a person is lost (Ephesians 2:1f; 1 John 1:5-10), and how to get to heaven (Revelation 2:10; Matthew 7:21-23).  The Bible is the perfect set of direction, the best map, and the ultimate compass.

Let’s stop being like the old sailor.  If we’re going one direction and the Bible is pointing us in another, it’s time to change course!

"And Matthew (The Tax Collector)"

Neal Pollard

It is interesting to me that Matthew, who lists himself eighth among the twelve apostles, adds a qualifier to his name different from any notation he makes about the others (10:1-4).  He identifies one as a traitor, gives an ethnic detail about another, tells us that there are two pairs of brothers chosen by our Lord, gives surnames, nicknames, and tells us James is the son of Alphaeus.  Yet, only after his own name does he specify occupation.  We know there are fishermen in the group.  At least one professional nationalist stood among the chosen.  Perhaps one was in the finance business.  Strangely, however, he mentions only his trade.

By Matthew's own account, tax collectors had no qualms hanging out with sinners (9:10-11).  Luke records at least one known for unscrupulous, unethical behavior in that occupation (19:1ff; cf. 3:13).  In fact, Matthew repeatedly lumps together tax collectors, prostitutes, and pagans (11:19; 18:17; etc.).  That is apparently how they were seen, especially by the scribes and Pharisees.  Yet, Matthew does not hide the kind of work he did before Jesus called him.  He openly lists it as the thing that distinguished him.

Did he do this to give hope to people who wrestled with the guilt of their own sins, who would know what he overcame to follow Jesus and see him as an example of Jesus' power?  Did he do this to show that even he, who picked to be an apostle and to write one of the four sacred records of Jesus' life, had a sinful past (cf. Rom. 3:23)?  Did he do this to show the unity possible in Christ?  How much interaction did he and Simon the zealot have in fulfilling Jesus' ministry?  Did they ever "door knock" together?  How far apart were they when reclining to eat together?  A Jewish nationalist would not have had deep, inherent appreciation for a guy collecting taxes to enrich the Roman coffers.  

What is clear is that Matthew tells everyone what he did and who he was.  Yet, what he became through Christ is what is most important.  He is still faithfully serving after Christ's resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:13).  He had a role in doing the initial preaching of the gospel of Christ (Acts 2:14).  

What about Joe the alcoholic?  Or Ted the foul-mouthed?  Or Susie the liar?  If they repent and obey Jesus, can they find a useful place in the kingdom, too?  We already know the answer.  The Lord wants us to believe it!  

"The Gift Of Preaching"

Neal Pollard

Some men who preach have been told they have the "gift of gab." How many of us have spoken of preachers who are "gifted" at what they do?  I think we understand the meaning of the word "gift" in that context.  We essentially mean "ability."

A phrase that has seemingly gotten increasing usage among some in the Lord's church, as well as the larger religious world, is "the gift of preaching."  Recently, I heard a man pray prior to preaching, "Pour on me the gift of preaching."  Others refer to certain preachers as those upon whom the gift of preaching has obviously been bestowed.  In many instances, those claiming such giftedness have proceeded to teach new and different doctrines from those clearly revealed in the New Testament.  Yet, what is implied in describing their work in preaching in this way is designed to silence any criticism or objection to what they go on to promote.

If they are directly endowed with a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit, as we see referenced in the discussion in 1 Corinthians 12-14, then aren't we fighting God if we disagree with their message?

There is no denying that some have a knack, an ability, an inclination, and an aptitude for various areas of service in the Lord's kingdom.  Sadly, some, like the one talent man, have buried their abilities to contribute to the growth and development of the church.  Again, every one has a part to play in the body (cf. Eph. 4:16).  This is a far cry from a divine bestowal that, in turn, suggests the Holy Spirit is directly giving the speaker his message.

When the inspired apostle Paul was preaching to the Bereans, they opened their Bibles to check the accuracy of his message (Acts 17:11).  When John urges the Christians to "test the spirits" (1 Jn. 4:1), it is in the context of the one who "keeps His commandments" (3:24).  It is a warning connected to the reality that "many false prophets have gone out into the world."  So, a man claims a passage to teach "A."  How do we know it actually teaches "A"? Because he has the "gift of preaching"?  No, we examine the passage, and we examine the claim in light of the passage.  If there is a conflict, what do we follow? The passage or the claim?

The point is this.  To hide behind the claim of a divine endowment of "the gift of preaching" is at least misleading, if not disingenuous.  The preacher must submit himself to the process of proper interpretation, fertilize the process with much prayer, and then set about to faithfully proclaim what scripture says.  That is how one properly uses his gifts to preach. Be aware of lofty claims that God is pouring His message into their heart through some direct operation. Often, what such preachers say is at odds with revealed truth.  Truth always trumps testimony!