Beech Tree News Network

An old saying oft-repeated is: “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” In like manner, be careful when asking a question, you just might get an answer that you do not want! This is what happened when the rich young man came to Jesus asking what to do to inherit eternal life (Matt. 19:16). Jesus answered him, but the man received an answer he did not want, and he abandoned Jesus (Matt. 19:22).

    Naaman was like this (II Kings 5:1-14). When he got the “prescription” for healing his leprosy (v. 10), he did not like the answer! He went away, and might not have been healed at all had it not been for the servant who talked sense into him (v. 11-14). Even though he got an answer he did not want, when he accepted the Lord’s plan, he was cleansed.

    What about us? Do we sometimes get an answer from God’s word that we do not want? How do we react? Do we become defiant, saying, “I’m going to do it anyway”? Do we get mad, or sad, or say, “God’s way doesn’t make sense to me”? Yet, when we are honest, we know that such responses do not change God’s word. Getting mad or sad, protesting, or substituting our ideas for God’s will not change what has been written.

    There are several answers from God that folks have not liked in the past. For example, some do not like God’s answer to their question, “What must I do to be saved?” The Lord’s plan is faith in Christ, repentance of sin, confession of faith, and baptism (Heb. 11:6; Acts 17:30; Rom. 10:10; I Pet. 3:21; etc.). People have been told otherwise, and so when they hear the truth, some folks don’t like God’s answer.

    Another answer not accepted by people is the answer to the question, “Did Christ establish a church?” The answer we find in Scripture is that Christ promised to establish a church (Matt. 16:18), and this church began on the Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2:41, 47). Before Acts 2, the church was promised, but after Acts 2, the church is in existence. This church belongs to Him and not man (Rom. 16:16; Acts 20:28). This is the Lord’s answer. Is it the one we want, or the one we have been taught?

    A third answer not accepted by folks is God’s answer to the question, “What kind of music do You accept in worship?” God’s answer is vocal music (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 13:15; etc.). Is this the answer men give to us? Of course, not! Therefore, whose answer will we accept? God’s or man’s?

    These and hundreds of other questions are answered by God in the Bible. Our question now is, “What is the proper response when we get an answer from God’s word that we do not want?” The answer is to be honest, and accept what the Lord says. Yes, there are times when the answers do not “make sense” to us. This does not give us license to change the answers! “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). Let us submit our will to God’s, and let us be ready to accept what He says (I Pet. 4:11), knowing that God’s ways are best (Isa. 55:8-9; I Cor. 1:20-31).

-- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program on 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167