When It’s All on the Line

As I strolled through the Nashville airport in the predawn hours of a recent, rainy Saturday morning, I noticed a large electronic bill-board on one of the corridor walls. A local financial group advertised themselves with the declaration, “When it’s all on the line, you need someone that delivers.”

Although I had glanced at the sign any number of times, its message had not captured my interest until That day. Then it prodded my imagination and prompted these etchings.

They Got It Right

In the things that really matter, you cannot afford to let just anyone take charge.

When I walk onto an airplane, I expect to see a pilot in the cockpit.

When I go to the pharmacy, I expect to have a pharmacist fill my prescription.

You understand my thoughts here. The billboard got it right. If it is an ultraimportant consideration, it is vital that the “someone” who handles it be a person who will do it right.

In financial matters they got it right.

On health issues they got it right.

On matters of public safety they got it right.

On social issues and in political matters I say again, they got it right.

It Is Also True on Other Major Matters

When it comes to eternal issues like Heaven and Hell, whom you trust and what you decide are major matters.

When you understand that you will die someday and yet you will live somewhere in eternity, that is not to be treated lightly.

When you realize you are an unsaved sinner in need of a Saviour and that you cannot save yourself, that is a hugely consequential matter.

When you struggle with your own sinful desires but simply want to walk with God and live a distinctively Christian life, that too is a major issue.

Such matters are “all-on-the-line” concerns demanding and deserving “someone who can deliver” for you. So let me spell it out.

Getting Delivery on What You Need

In order to get what you need on these great eternal matters, some things need to be in place.

1. An untampered with Bible!

The text you rely on is important. If things get added or, in many cases, subtracted from the text, you have a tampered with document. When changes are purposely made to accommodate current cultural concerns, the text gets twisted.

Making it “easier to read” (they say) is very likely to change “what you read.” If “what you read” is no longer what it should be, then you have “a distorted Bible.”

With so much at stake, why would you trust a text that someone has put his own spin on.

2. The unimpeachable truth!

Truth is a priceless item. The text of Scripture says, “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23).

From “In the beginning” (Gen. 1:1) all the way to the “Amen” (Rev. 22:21), the Lord has provided us with “the truth” on all the important matters.

3. An undiluted Gospel!

The Gospel is “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”—I Cor. 15:3,4.

There is but one true Gospel, but cult leaders and others keep reinventing what they call the gospel.

“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”—Gal. 1:7,8.

4. The unspeakable Saviour!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12.

No one else compares. He is unique. No one else can be who He is and do what He does. He is the Saviour for all who will believe and receive Him.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”—John 1:12.

Truly our words fail us when we attempt to describe Him.

5. Uncompromised churches!

All you have to do is read the New Testament to know that Satan attacks the churches. If he can’t shut them down, he will be content just to shut them up. Through bad doctrine, bad behavior and bad methods of ministry he dilutes, diminishes and disenfranchises a lot of churches. Even though they may have started right, they take a wrong turn; and their days of fruitfulness are short lived.

We need our churches to be a place that “delivers” for us.

6. The unblemished ambas­sadors!

False prophets and false teachers are plentiful (II Pet. 2:1). Their advocacy will not deliver as they promise. You must “try the spirits” (I John 4:1) to determine whether or not they be of God.

If they do not line up scripturally, you should not listen to them, learn from them or let them lead you.

Every preacher, whether he be pastor, evangelist or missionary, needs to be an ambassador of faith who is unblemished and untarnished by worldliness.

7. An unfailing fellowship!

The crowd with whom you associate yourself will have an impact on you. At all stages of your spiritual life, you need fellowship. That fellowship should be clean. It should build you. It should strengthen you. If it does not help you, then you must know it is not good for you.

So when I saw the billboard, it caused me to put my thoughts down—and I hope it will be a blessing to you because “when it’s all on the line, you do need someone that delivers.” Amen!