Thursday Theology: No Shortcuts

It’s human nature to want the most results for the least amount of work, so we look for what seem like shortcuts to our goals. Often, what appeared to be the path of least resistance turns out either to be a dead end where we miss our goal, or a dangerous sidetrack. Rather than exercise, dieters take pills that can be harmful. Rather than live frugally and save for the future, people invest in ‘get rich quick’ schemes, or worse, play loosely with ethics.

The same principle is at work in our spiritual lives. One reason I believe people prefer the false idea of earning salvation by works instead of receiving it by grace is it gives them a benchmark where they can attempt the minimum effort. Trying to live a 51% “good life” is more appealing than turning our lives completely over to God out of love and obedience.

Even for those living in the light of grace, there is a tendency to do “just enough” to develop spiritually. Sunday worship…check. Read occasional bestselling “Christian book”…check. Make dreaded New Years resolution to read the Bible through….check…again…

This is why the Church is so weak today. Plenty of people pack the pews, but training once a week is no way to prepare for any challenge, much less the fight of our lives.

Reality is the same in every case: it takes time and a lifestyle change to achieve our goals. The dieter is better served with a new balance of exercise versus what they eat. The person saving for the future has to make incremental changes now that will pay dividends many years later. And the person who truly wants to grow closer to God will do so. Bit by bit, day by day. There will be both setbacks and straightaways. It takes the development of discipline to keep at it, even in the face of momentary failure. But that’s what makes a ‘disciple’—discipline. In every case, life is a marathon, not a sprint. Wait until you’re at the finish line—you’ll realize then how far God's brought you.