Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Back in 1948, Ralph Teetor invented modern cruise control, but an early version appeared as far back as the early 1900s. Back then, a driver could set his speed by using a lever on the steering column. It was probably like setting the speed on your old riding lawn mower when you begin cutting the backyard. Teeter’s invention included a speed selector on the dashboard that connected to a mechanism in the engine compartment. This device had numerous names such as a speedostat, control-matic, and press-o-matic. In 1958 Chrysler began to install this in some of their vehicles and eventually called it, “Cruise Control.”
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
In order for cruise control to work, you first have to engage it by turning it on. In order to obtain eternal life we must engage ourselves by submitting to the teachings of the New Testament. We must allow ourselves to be completely controlled by the things of the Holy Spirit. They must control our actions and our behavior, just as the speed in your vehicle is governed by the cruise control. Only through humble submission and obedience to the will of God, can one truly repent of their sins. God’s Word must have complete control over our entire lives, because when it does, it’s like walking with Spiritual Cruise Control.
2 Timothy 3 ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Just as cruise control corrects your speed, God’s Word corrects our path. When we humbly submit to it, it will adjust our course and keep us heading in the right direction.
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:6
We prove our love for the Lord when we keep His Word.
John 14 ²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? ²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. ²⁴ He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Like turning on the cruise control, we must apply the teachings of scriptures to our daily lives, and become a doer of God’s Word.
James 1 ²¹ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
To obtain eternal life requires more than just confession with your mouth; it requires repentance from the heart. It involves walking each day in perfect submission to the will of God. People must repent of their sins, otherwise they will perish.
Luke 13 ² And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? ³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they 0were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
There will be many people who actually believe that they are going to enter into heaven, but they will be turned away. Some of them will have been baptized into the faith, but never fully submitted to the will of God. They never accepted the truth of their own faults, and became faithful to the teachings of scripture.
Matthew 7 ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This is the false form of Christianity that surrounds us in the world today.
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
Repentance requires obedience to the will of God. It is only through contrition and humility that we can accept the wrongs that we have done and earnestly attempt to overcome the deeds of our human nature. Those who overcome will be rewarded by God.
Revelation 21 ⁷ He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ⁸ But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Obedience to the will of God is crucial to eternal salvation. Those who are the friends of Christ and have obeyed Him completely, are going to enter into eternal life. Just as governors, kings and rulers have authority in this world, men who have served the will of God will be granted authority in eternity.
Revelation 2 ²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Those who desire eternal life need to humbly submit themselves to the teachings of Scripture. It must fill our hearts and minds each day as God transforms us into new creatures. God’s Word needs to be activated inside of a faithful heart, just like reaching over and engaging the….
……. Cruise Control
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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