Serving the High Plains
Religion Columnist
In a recent article I mentioned in passing the common occurrence of truck washes along I-40 and most if not all interstate highways and major trucking routes. I’m glad there are so many truck washes because it’s but one more reminder of the great transportation industry we have in the USA that contributes significantly to our country’s industrial and agricultural prosperity.
Regarding truck washes, I understand that some truck drivers going into some states want to make sure that their trucks are clean on the outside because they’ll be less likely to be inspected as closely on the inside. They either know something inappropriate might be found on the inside or they just don’t want to lose time on an inspection. It might actually be better for them to hope for a thorough inspection at the state line than to be pulled over and inspected at an inopportune time.
Anyway, truck washes have to be specially built to accommodate the much larger vehicle than the standard car wash can handle. You can’t just drive a semi through your typical neighborhood car wash. That’s how it is with becoming a Christian. Many think there are many paths to God – the way of life that begins at the point of salvation and leads to eternal life in his presence. But God says there’re actually only two paths of life and only one that leads to him (Matthew 7:13-14; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:3-6). The opening to eternal life – salvation – is simply too narrow to accommodate all of the teachings about salvation that aren’t in the Bible.
As we must have a good transportation system of planes, trains, trucks, and automobiles to be a prosperous nation, we also must do all of God’s will without omitting anything to be accepted by him (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 13:22-28; Acts 20:26-27). It doesn’t matter if we do everything else God expects of us, we’ve got to be washed inside and out to pass his inspection. The method God prescribes for that is baptism, during which God washes our bodies and sprinkles our hearts to cleanse us so he can place his Spirit there (Hebrews 10:22; Colossians 2:11-13; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:38-39).
Did you get that? Every Christian has to submit to God through the simple act of baptism according to the scriptures (1 Peter 1:22-23; John 14:15-21; Romans 6:3-5; Mark 16:16). Having yielded to God’s inner cleansing, our outside also will be clean (Matthew 23:25-26). Baptism isn’t something to be neglected or put off until a more opportune time because that opportunity may never arise (Acts 9:1-19; 22:12-16; 16:25-33). God’s inspection could come at any time without notice (Matthew 24:36-39).
Are you ready? If we follow his plan for initial cleansing (baptism) and continued cleansing through self-inspection and confession (2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Corinthians 11:31; 1 John 1:5-9), we need not be concerned about when Jesus will appear to conduct his thorough inspection.
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan. Contact him at [email protected]