We're going to do it our way. We're not going to do it God's way.....for to do it God's way we would have to humble ourselves....to place ourselves in a position of having to learn something from someone....and we're not about to do that. I'm referring here to salvation. This has to be the single largest contingent of people in America. It matters not what our chosen method of salvation might be called or what church it might or might not be aligned with....the common denominator to all here is that we have assessed the situation of our life....and long ago.....quite naturally I might add....for this is the de facto salvation in mankind....come to the conclusion that God will look us over and because of our virtues....or the absence of major vices....accept us into whatever it is that lies ahead.
There is a stubbornness involved here....and the older one gets the harder it becomes to admit that a mistake was made. We enter into a one-sided conversation.....where we address God....or refer to God in conversation with others....as if He is pleased with our decisions....and since there can be no response....and we do not go to His word to check on our decisions....then we....not God....legitimate the decisions that we made. Since He is not present....we answer for Him....casting the proxy vote....in our favor.We don't know what lies ahead....because we didn't want to know badly enough....for we would have to rely on His word to tell us that. You see this is really only an eternal life insurance policy that we want....as we are in no way certain that God even exists.....but if He does exist....we need to be....insured....it's just common sense. The eternal problem though is that ignorance is no excuse....which is why Bunyan named such a fellow in his Pilgrim's Progress....at the end of his book.....Ignorance.....who had an answer for everything during his life....and was quite confident until he stood at the gate of the Celestial City....where his explanations....of which he always had at the ready if questioned....were not even wanted....only his certificate.....of which he had none.
Derek Thomas is probably the finest teacher to take you through Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress should you wish....and he once concluded a sermon on Pilgrim's Progress....specifically on the fate of the character Ignorance....with this...."Make sure that you have that Certificate. Make sure that you're building your life on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and saying....'Nothing in my hands I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling'."
