It's (Un) Complicated

“For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.” 2 Cor. 1:12 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3

         Perhaps the greatest theologian and thinker who ever lived, whom God inspired to pen some of His most profound truths, was adamant about the need to never let the profundity of the subject ever blur the simplicity of the message. “My greatest joy,” he says to the Corinthian believers, “is to know that by the grace of God, I’ve lived and ministered among you ‘in simplicity and godly sincerity.’”  And he tells them ten chapters later that if they have at all swerved away from this, it’s because Satan himself has beguiled them. Mark it down: any doctrine or principle that cannot be understood and lived out simply and sincerely did not originate with God. All His workings behind the scene may be unfathomable, but the appropriation need not be. Here, briefly, are three aspects of the Christian life that often are, but never should be, referred to by today’s popular saying: “It’s complicated.”

         SALVATION: Jesus is the only way to Heaven (Acts 4:12); if you have Him, you have life…now and forever (1 John 5:11); you “get” Him by acknowledging who He is, God the Son (John 20:31) and accepting Him as Savior and substitute for your sin (1 Pet. 2:24) and Lord of your life (1Cor. 8:6). Don’t worry about who chose whom; rest assured, if you chose Him, He chose you! Enjoy!

         SIN: What is sin? Well, for sure, according to 1 John 3:4, it’s the transgression of God’s holy Law that He chiseled in stone (Exo. 20), and which Paul reiterated, minus the keeping of the Sabbath. Then, according to James 4:17, there are personal sins (“to him it is sin”) having to do with individual light, which may or may not be true of someone else. All we need to know is that there are universal sins plainly identified in God’s Word and others pointed out to us individually by the Holy Spirit and for which we are accountable, as well. Beyond that, it’s we who muddy the waters, not God.

         SECOND COMING: Should I be looking for or working toward the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? Yes! Whether one holds to the Pre-Millennial view, looking for the world to get worse and worse, or the Post-Millennial one, anticipating a better world, the fact remains, Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth, as He promised (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16). The only real question is, has it made a difference in the way I live? If not, how He will return is of little consequence, since, according to 1 John 3:3, I probably don’t really believe it, in the first place. Now, that’s not hard, is it? J The most important thing to remember about the Second Coming is “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh in an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40).  (Emphasis added)

         As the old saying goes, “Life isn’t complicated; people are.” Study God’s Word, delve into its inexhaustible depths as much you’re able; but never complicate the important things, the life and death things, and the things that are meant to comfort and assure us in a complicated world. This poor world falls over itself trying to make heads or tails of life, while you and I who know, and are known of, the great Originator of Life are able to speak with “simplicity and godly sincerity.”  Let’s make sure we do it.

“Seeing then we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.” 2 Cor. 3:12