"Make It As Sure As You Can"
The title of this article is a part of a statement made by Pilate concerning the securing of the sepulchre of Jesus. (Matt. 27:65.) I believe we all should apply this principle in our preparation to meet God We should strive to "make it as sure as you can".
"And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment". (Heb. 9:27) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10) "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." (Rom. 2:16) These passages teach clearly that all shall appear in judgment. And that we shall be judged by Jesus Christ. Therefore, we MUST "make it as sure" as we can. To do this we must realize that we shall be —
Judged By What Is Written
Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word which I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48) Picturing the judgment, John had this to say, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Rev. 20:12) Yes, we shall be judged "according to" the gospel; the "words spoken" by Jesus Christ "which are written in the books". And let us not forget that judgment will also be "according to their works." Our works must harmonize with, or measure up to God's word. Since this is true we must seek to conform our activities to the teaching of the scriptures. This forbids our using "for doctrine the commandments of men." (Matt. 15:9) To "make it as sure as you can," you must reject the manuals, creeds, disciplines and catechisms which men offer to guide people religiously. The scriptures will furnish us all that we need to please God and to be prepared for judgment. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) The apostle Peter tells us that we should "speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11) John exhorts that we "abide in the doctrine of Christ." (2 John 9) Since all agree that judgment will be by the Word of God and that the scriptures are the revealed word of God; we must be governed and guided ONLY by the scriptures if we are to "make it as sure as you (we) can."
Wear Only The Name Christian
The scriptures reveal that the followers of the Lord were "called Christians". (Acts 11:26) We read of an apostle of Christ pleading with people to be Christians. (Acts 26:28) The Bible exhorts us to "glorify God" in the name "Christian". (I Peter 4:16) Now, if you wish to "make it as sure as you can", you will NOT seek to glorify God in the names Baptist, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, etc. etc. But will wear ONLY the name Christian. You can "speak as the oracles of God" by wearing this name. Every one will admit that this is a SAFE thing to do.
Buried In Baptism
Paul affirms that one is "buried" in baptism. (Rom. 6:3-4 and Col. 2:12) " . . . Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death... " "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God... " We read in the eighth chapter of Acts, verses 38-39, that both the preacher and the candidate for baptism went down into the water and that after the baptism (burial) they both came up out of the water. Did your actions conform to this? If not, you are not making "it as sure as you can".
Sing
The type of music we are to use in our worship to God is specified. (Eph. 5:19; and Col. 3:16) It is "singing". Our praise to God is to be "the fruits of our lips." (Heb. 13:15) You cannot "abide in the doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9), and use any other kind of music in New Testament worship. If you are a member of a church which uses any other music than "vocal" music, then you are not making "it as sure as you can." Please, remember that all agree that "singing" IS authorized by the scripture and that it is pleasing to God. So why take a chance on the salvation of your soul by engaging in that which is not revealed?
Communion Every First Day Of The Week
Paul speaks of the "communion of the blood of Christ" and "the communion of the body of Christ." (1 Cor. 10:16) He also deals with the subject of "the Lord's supper" (1 Cor. 11:20-39) We are told that the first century followers of the Lord ate this "supper" on the "first day of the week". "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them . . ." (Acts 20:7.) Thus we learn the purpose of the disciples coming together. The writer of Hebrews admonishes members of the church on this wise, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together... " (Hel). 10:25) Since the disciples came together on the first day of the week to eat the Lord's supper and the scriptures forbid our "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together", any time we fail to assemble on the first day of the week to "break bread" we do forsake the assembling of ourselves together". No one would tell us that we are wrong in having the Lord's supper every first day of the week, so, let us "make it as sure as you (we) can" by doing as the early disciples.
Conclusion
If all would apply this principle in serving the Lord I'm sure that there would be more faithfulness manifested in the church today. We make things as sure as we can in the affairs of this life. May God help us to exercise the same wisdom in things spiritual.