Beginning with Adam, Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden, failing to follow instructions to the letter has caused many serious problems. Following the Lord’s instructions requires the true God seeker to pay close attention to His Word, for Jesus tells us that “Man must LIVE (his life) by EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God” (Mat. 4:4). In order to live with the Lord in the next life one must live this life in obedience to every Word found in the Holy Bible. No exceptions. One cannot be more exact than that. The reason He left His Will and Testament for us in written form is so that we will always know what to do in order to inherit eternal life. As is the case with a maze–there is only one path that will lead the traveler to the desired destination. All other paths lead to failure. As with a puzzle, each piece must be in the proper place in order for success to occur. The God seeker is the maze walker and puzzle worker. Though several options are readily available to him, he alone must decide which way to go and which piece to apply. The only way to complete the maze and the puzzle is to read and follow the rules.

The difference between success and failure in this life is often a matter of the tiniest of measures. For example, a certain amount of a particular substance in a medication might cure us, while a different measure of that same substance might kill us. The outcome of a race is often determined by a fraction of a second. Sometimes the margin between winning and second place (losing) is so tiny that the human eye cannot be trusted to decide the outcome. In such cases a photograph must be used to determine the winner. This is called a “photo finish.” There have been cases in which the difference between winning it all and losing it all involved mere hundredths of a second. When plotting an airplane flight from point A to point B, being off by one degree will result in completely missing one’s planned destination. In this day of participation trophies, guaranteed contracts and multiple graduation valedictorians, it comes as a shock to many to realize that no matter how small the difference between first and second place might be, there is only one winner. Everyone else, including the second place finisher, loses. Such is the harsh reality of athletic competition.

Such is the even harsher reality of the Christian walk in that failing to win carries a much greater consequence. The Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Corinth, chapter 9 verse 24 about the “race” all church people must “run.” He warned that, though all in the church run the race, only one wins the prize. This is the one who runs (conducts his life) according to the rules (God’s Word) without variation (church doctrines). Following race rules not found in the Holy Bible will disqualify the church runner no matter how much easier, more sensible, convenient or religious those rules may be. We must remember the Lord’s Words to the rich man who had obeyed all of His Ten Commandments all of his life: “ONE THING you lack” (Mk. 10:21). It is important to note that because he had obeyed the Law all of his life, Jesus “loved him.” Note also in verse 22 that the rich man, though knowing that Jesus loved him, went away grieved. Why? Because he knew that Christ’s love for him did not overrule His command to obey Him. Because of ONE SIN this man would not qualify to receive eternal life. L.J.