KEEP IT SIMPLE

READING: 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8

Verse 8: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

One compelling characteristic of the Bible is its simplicity. The verse above gives an example of this observation. Upon reading verse 8, our human inclination is to want to understand more about Paul’s statement. We want to know details about what will take place and how it will be. Sometimes, when details are not given, people can be found formulating expectations and attempting to fill in blanks. It is when that type of response occurs, that simplicity can become complexity. That could easily occur with this verse. Many questions could come to mind regarding the manner in which what is described will actually happen. However, the alternative to speculation and calculation is to plainly and simply accept that it will happen. The promise of His coming can be comfortably embraced with only the knowledge that it will be glorious. This can be done without trying to understand what is far too magnificent for us to grasp. The discrepancy between the reality involved and our understanding, is like a flea trying to understand astrophysics, but much greater. There is comfort instead of complexity in accepting and trusting that what God has spoken will be done. He will well accomplish all the details without our foreknowledge. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. There is information that the Lord withholds from us. Why do you suppose that is so?

2. Do you produce unnecessary complications?