One thing that is invaluable in this job is a GPS. Now, I am old enough that I have done a delivery job before when we did not have GPS - pizza delivery, when I was in college. However, with that we always had a static starting point (the shop), and a big map on the wall to refer to before we left the shop - two things that are not part of the job today. We also had a smaller delivery area.
The only thing with the GPS is that it is not always precise on the specific address. Hence, there are times when it has:
* Taken me a half mile out of the way to make a U-turn that wasn't necessary anyway.
* Taken me down an alley rather than the road I needed.
* Not recognized new roads.
* A few times, it was at completely the wrong place.
Other drawbacks are that it does not recognize that sometimes a different route may be much faster because of traffic or construction or a car accident.
But by far what happens the most often is that it says, "You have arrived!" and you're actually a few houses away. You have to drive a couple hundred yards yet before you find the right house. If you were entirely dependent upon the GPS to get to the right house, you might be in trouble.
We understand that newer technology is not always perfect and can sometimes cause a little confusion. But what about when people do the same thing? Should we be as understanding if a doctor were to give the wrong dosage of medication? Or a nurse misread our medical data? What if the paramedics were called, and they went to the wrong house? Or even in my case - what if I did not correct the technological error and delivered the food to the wrong house every time?
And most importantly ... what about our religious leaders? Shall we entrust our souls' destinies to a teaching that is "not quite there"? Well, if you've ever been told that you are saved by grace ... and that means you don't have to do anything at all, you're not quite there. If you've been told all you have to do is believe, you're not quite there. If you've been led in a "Sinner's Prayer" and believe that makes you saved ... you're not quite there. Many of today's religious leaders are like that GPS ... they lead you most of the way there ... but then let you go a few doors short.
Fortunately, you have a road map. Always be wary of a preacher who tells you, "The Bible says...." and then doesn't tell you where the Bible says whatever it is he's put forth. So let's look at two examples. The very first Christians, on the day of Pentecost sometime around A.D. 30, and Saul of Tarsus (later better known as Paul the Apostle) several years later.
In Acts 2, we find that the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles on the Day of Pentecost - 1 week after Jesus ascended - and they began to speak in tongues. This was a wonder (of course) to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the Holy Day. Peter stood up among them and gave the "first gospel sermon", as it was, explaining what was happening, who Jesus was, and how all were guilty of killing the Messiah - but that he had been raised from the dead. The people, it tells us in verse 37, were "pricked in the heart" ... they were emotionally affected by this word, AND that moved them to action, for we are told they "cried out, 'Men and Brethren, what should we do?'"
In verse 38, Peter says what we in the New Testament church love to quote so often, "Repent and be baptized every one of you, for the forgiveness of sins." Now, God has made that very simple, very concise. Repent - turn around from a sinful lifestyle and do what is right ... and be baptized - immersed in water as a symbol of Christ's blood that will wash away sins. We don't DESERVE or EARN salvation because we did this .... but we are told to do it.
With Saul's conversion, we go to him giving testimony about it in court, before Festus and Agrippa, recorded in Acts 20. Specifically, he was traveling to Damascus to round up Christians and bring them "to justice", in his mind. On the way there, a light shone around him and a voice - the voice of Jesus - spoke to him, asking why he was persecuting Him. Paul called him Lord - that becomes important in a moment. He is told where to go, and a man God has sent will meet him and instruct him further, and until then, he is blind. Ananias is sent by God ... now I want you to notice that at this point, Paul has repented, Paul believes, but Ananias says to him in verse 16, "And now, why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord!" Paul, though believing and repenting, was still in his sins! He was not quite there.
If you're not quite there - it's just a few steps more. Why not complete that now?
