God's Positioning System Doesn't Need An Upgrade #1

Every phone now comes with one. However, just a few years ago, people had to purchase one. How many people still own one? I have to tell you I resisted purchasing one for some time. In fact, truth be told, the family received theirs by cashing in some credit card reward points. I resisted because I always thought my paper folded maps. And for the most part, it was. However, I think as humans we often look for an easier softer way. I think it's part of the human condition: a fallen part but still a part. After all, Eve went for the apple, right?

I believe that may be the underlying cause of today’s letter to the Galatians. Paul realized in this letter he wrote in 54AD that the church He and the Holy Spirit founded in Galatia had gone native. That is, started acting less like a church and more like a social club. They were lost. In fact, Paul’s response to their inability to discern the true message of hope from false one is pretty inspired. He can tell the programming he had downloaded to them had become corrupted.

Of course, this happens. My little FREE GPS had some old (like a year) software in it. I checked online at the company’s website but they didn’t have an upgrade available. For example, when I drive down a new local expressway, the GPS thinks I’m driving in some corn fields. It keeps telling me to make right and left turns where roads no longer exists except in the devices memory chip. It gets pretty angry at times. "Make a right turn in 2 miles. Make a right turn in one mile. Ding. Make a right turn. Please make a legal u-turn at the safest possible place. Recalculating route!" In Florida, it couldn’t find the new hotel I was staying at. It was really frustrating. At one point, I had to actually get a paper map and then ask directions: “Aughhh, the horror of it all.” I just hate getting directions from humans because there is always an opinion attached to the directions. Go this way instead of the direct route because it’s longer in miles but shorter in time due to those the tourists.I really don’t know what is worse- the GPS or the gas station attendant. This is probably how those early Christians in Galatia felt. After all, Paul was with them for only a short period of time. He was in Galatia on his first missionary journey for around three years. He traveled all of Galatia during this period stopping at the 5 or 6 of the biggest population centers to share the life giving message Jesus. Remember, this was an area of roughly 100 miles wide by 400 miles long. There were no jets. This was only the "ankle express" the whole way and as a result the actual time Paul spent with these new Christians was probably pretty minimal. With all that being said, Paul shares the message of hope and the church explodes. However, after he leaves, others come behind him and begin to pervert the message by trying to install “requirements” and/or “traditions” to qualify the new believers as "real Christians." For the most part, scholars believe these false teachers were Jewish Christians who thought the outward ceremonies and obedience to Mosaic Law justified the heart. Of course, this sets Paul off like a Roman candle (Pun intended!) because Christ’s death and resurrection brought about a new covenant which no longer requires outward ceremonies but understands that a saving grace comes from faith alone. Paul is so upset with these false guides, he uses a very interesting word, we have translated, “accursed.” The word actually means “to suffer punishment in hell.”(Romans 9:3) Effectively, he is saying that those teachers of heresy need to “Go to Hell.”

I think if Paul were around today. He’d still be going off because there’s plenty to be upset with. There’s the gospel of Oprah where your state of consciousness is that you become a perfect a Jesus. There’s Mormonism which claims a “new” angel provided a gospel than what Jesus did. There’s Islam which teaches that Mohammed was given additional revelation and there is scale that you will be judged upon on your final days. There’s even “Christian” churches who assert only baptisms of immersion are valid for salvation. Paul would be screaming at these teachers. “Go to Hell for punishment. Do not pass go!” No GPS required for you. You are on the path so just keep walking over the cliff.

The “Good News”, the gospel, is the same today as it always has been. I thank God for the Bible because it provides a constant message through which God’s will cannot be distorted if we read it for ourselves. God’s character is unchanging and his word demonstrates that. The main points are all repeated in many different ways. In fact, Paul writes the deepest message succinctly in verse 4: ”Jesus Christ came to give himself up for our sins to deliver us from this evil age because that is the will of the father.“ He did so because he loves each of us. He even left behind His Holy Spirit to guide us through the trials and tribulation of this life. We only need to believe in Jesus to begin our journey with Him. Only from this moment, this turning to Jesus, accepting Him as our Lord and Savior and subsequent willingness to turn from sin is one saved from an eternity of hell. Don’t be fooled. God’s Positioning System always gets it right. The real starting point for any life is at the intersection of Jesus Street and your feet. So don’t get lost!

Read His Word and Follow the Directions.