The Bottom Line

One of the things that has helped me maneuver through life is a question that I ask myself continually—“What’s the bottom line?” Knowing the answer to this question has helped me sort through and work through the details of life more effectively and efficiently. This question, “What’s the bottom line,” has also grounded me in my faith. It has helped me build bridges with those who profess to be Christians, and it has also helped to tear down barriers with those who are “outside” the Christian Faith.

I think that knowing the bottom line, I mean really knowing the bottom line, will help eliminate the divisions that exist amongst Christians and the world, Christians and other Christians, and Christians and God.

For the most part, I think that all Christians agree that salvation is by “grace through faith,” however, how we translate this is where we get into trouble. When I listen carefully to what we say, grace often means works. In other words, often we equate being saved with our actions or our responses. Reading the Bible, going to church, confession, prayer, conduct, repentance, and being baptized are all good and necessary things, but none of these save us. Come to think of it, not even our faith saves us.

As I interpret Scripture, only God can save and only Jesus has the authority to save. In other words, what comes out of Jesus’ mouth will determine my eternal destiny. This is the bottom line. This is how I read all of Scripture, including passages like Matthew 7:15-23 and Matthew 25:31-46. The “bottom line” levels the playing field, helps keep arrogance at bay, and sends a welcoming invitation to humility.

There are two questions that I have to ask myself in response to the bottom line. These questions are, “Do I believe this?” and “Can I trust Him?” These answers can be tricky because I have to continually remind myself that my answer (or response) does not really determine my future. These questions can only help me recognize in what, or in whom I am putting my trust and confidence.

In the end, if the song I am singing is not, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name…” I had better start changing my tune because the bottom line is that the ground I am standing on is sinking sand.

Static

I’m able to get as many as 5 Christian radio stations when I’m traveling in my car—sometimes. A lot of times, I have to really strain to hear the broadcasts because of the static. I am not usually irritated or frustrated by this interference because I’ve accepted this as, “it is what it is,” and I am also really absorbed in trying to follow the speaker’s message and train of thought.

This morning I thought about how interference is so much a part of my Christian life. First, there are so many “dead spots” in my life. Sometimes I feel like I am in a valley or out of the station’s range. I try to tune in to station G-O-D, and find nothing but silence.

Other times, there is so much commotion in life, that the static makes it hard to hear the voice of God. Still other times there are other stations that fill the same air waves and there are two voices that occupy the same air space. This makes it difficult to filter out the other messenger and listen to the program that I want to hear.

Fortunately, station G-O-D’s tower stands far above all of this. Jesus says, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). Even though God’s message may not be intelligible when it reaches our ears, His tower is unmistakable and is visible for all to see.

Jacob and Esau

In Bible Class someone once said, “Esau seems to have a much better character than Jacob. I don’t understand why God would choose Jacob over Esau. How does this work?” I thought that this was a good observation and a very good question. If Jacob and Esau were businessmen and Jacob was a Christian and Esau was not, I would do business with Esau rather than Jacob. The reason is obvious. I would trust Esau much more than I would Jacob. This sounds like a paradox, doesn’t it? But this is part of the beauty of Scripture—it reveals the hearts of men and declares the faithfulness of God.

The Hebrew writer said, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:1). This is why God remembered Jacob. Jacob believed the blessing and the promise of God to his grandfather Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-6) and he wanted it so bad that he was willing to lie, cheat, and steal for it (Genesis 27, 25:27-34). Esau did not think very much of God’s promise and this is why he was called “godless” (Genesis 25:27-34, Hebrews 12:16-17).

We often think of ungodliness only as evil and wicked people. It includes that, but in a broader definition, a godless person is someone who does not believe in God. With this definition, a “good” person can be godless, while a person with a less than sparkling character can be a person of faith. While I wrestle with this definition, I can almost grasp how grace was extended to Jacob.

Jacob’s behavior was not the thing that impressed God. Jacob is mentioned with the people of faith in Hebrews 11 just because he believed God. This is the thing that was outstanding to God (Hebrews 11:6). This is why the Scripture tells us repeatedly that “the righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 4).

My life’s struggle seems to be somewhere in between the conflict and contrast of Jacob and Esau. Sometimes I see myself as Esau with God nowhere in sight. But then there are other times I believe God. But I don’t think that my faith is even as “pure” and “noble” as Jacob’s was. The reason why I believe is because I often feel like there’s nothing else for me to grab on to except the promises and goodness of God; it’s kind of like the last resort.

However, my faith journey is not over yet and I am hoping, really hoping that at the end of the road is a God who is not ashamed to be my God.