‘Do the details matter to God?’ Part 2
“ 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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23) O ne of my most prized possessions is a book that was compiled by my grandmother that was given to my wife and me just before we were married, and within this book is hand-written recipes of dishes that my grandmother would make for her family. I appreciated this book greatly when she gave us the book and do more so now that she has passed away. If I take this book, and follow the instructions within, I can still taste my granny’s cooking, and it takes me back to my childhood and all the Sunday dinners that we enjoyed every week. If we were discussing secret recipes, we might understand the need to follow the instructions. If a person wanted to make a pan of cornbread, the recipe would tell them to mix a cup of cornmeal, a tablespoon of self-rising flour, a tablespoon of mayonnaise, and enough buttermilk to blend
Jeremy Thornton
Minute with the Minister
to the desired consistency, then pour into a skillet, and bake at four-hundred degrees until golden brown. If this recipe was followed as stated, then the result should be cornbread that would win any blue ribbon, but what would happen if we ignored or altered some of the instructions? If we did not have one or more ingredients and decided to substitute whatever we have on hand, would we be able to enjoy delicious cornbread?
We might be able to understand the necessity of keeping the details of a recipe when cooking, but many fail to understand the necessity of keeping the details of God’s Word. The Old Testament is filled with accounts of God communicating with man, providing detailed instructions they were to follow, and when they kept the details and followed the instruction God gave, then they were blessed. Noah and his family were saved from the flood because Noah followed the instruction of God to build the ark, keeping every detail.
Israel was saved from the final plague given to Egypt because they followed the detailed instructions God gave and the angel would pass over the houses that had the blood applied correctly, according to the details of God’s instruction. There are also times when some were destroyed because they failed to keep the details and thought they would be able to alter the details of God. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire and were devoured (Lev. 10:1-2). Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it, ignoring the command to not touch the ark, and God smote him for his error (2 Sam.
6:6-7). What would be the result if we fail to obey the commands God has given us in the New Testament? Are there any details within the New Testament that must be observed and cannot be ignored?
Jesus stated there would be some that will be told to depart because they failed to keep His commands (Matt.
7:21-23). Knowing the Judgment Day is coming, and on this day, we will be judged by the Word of God (John 12:48), it is imperative that we keep the details of His Word. This requires us to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), understanding the commands of the Old Testament have been fulfilled in Christ and taken out of the way (Matt. 5:17; Col. 2:14), and looking to the New Testament for our instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
The children of Israel were given detailed instructions that would save them from the final plague (Exodus 12), and likewise, God has provided instructions for us to follow today to save us from eternal destruction. God commanded Israel to make a sacrifice, hold a feast, and apply the blood of the sacrifice to the doorposts of each house to be saved during the final plague. God has commanded that we be saved by the sacrifice of His Son, which was sent to save us (John 3:16-17). Just as Israel was told to make sacrifice and keep the feast, applying the blood correctly. God has instructed us to believe Jesus is the Christ (John 8:24), repent of sin (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus before men (Matt. 10:32-33), and apply the blood of the sacrifice correctly in the waters of baptism (Rom. 6:3; Mark 16:16). The Israelites that kept the details could be saved from destruction and those that keep the details found within the New Testament can be saved from the destruction that is to come.
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, were authorized by God to make sacrifices in worship to God, but altered the instruction of God, offering strange fire to the Lord, and they were devoured and died (Lev. 10:1-2).
Under the Old Testament, Israel was given specific instructions to keep if they desired to worship God acceptably, and many would be surprised to learn God still has specific instructions for worship within the New Testament. God commands that we worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24) and if we want to worship with the proper attitude, we will do so according to the details God has given. The acts of worship are given throughout the New Testament, and we must keep the details. Just as we would not alter a recipe but would keep every detail, we must also pay attention to the details pertaining to worship. God has commanded to sing without the use of mechanical instruments in worship (Eph. 5:19), but many alter this instruction.
God has commanded to keep a memorial feast, remembering our Lord’s death, on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23ff.), but many will only keep this feast sporadically.
Noah was given instructions to be saved from the flood. When Noah kept these commands and entered the ark, keeping the detailed instructions God gave, he was saved. God has instructed those that desire to be saved from the destruction that is to come, to be inside the church purchased by Jesus (Acts 20:28). The Bible informs there is only one church (Eph. 4:4; 1 Cor.
12:12ff). Jesus shed His blood to purchase the place of safety (Acts 20:28) and on the Day of Judgment, Jesus will present those within the church to the Father as a glorious church (Eph. 5:27). Jesus was given all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18) and is the head over all things to the church, which is His body (Eph. 1:22-23) and He is the Savior of the body (Col.
1:18). If Jesus is the Savior of the body, which is the church, and will present this body to the Father someday, shouldn’t we want to keep the details to make sure we are in the place of safety on the Day of Judgment?
The New Testament is our instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16) and is filled with details for living a righteous life. When we take God at His Word, and keep the detailed instructions found within, we can receive the promises that are found within. We would not expect a delicious pan of cornbread if we altered the recipe and used gravel instead of cornmeal. Those that alter the instruction of God should not expect to be saved when we stand before the Judgment seat of Christ, but they can expect to be told “depart from me” (Matt. 7:21-23).
Jeremy Thornton is Minister of Highway 77 Church of Christ in Marion, Arkansas.
