Messes To Masterpieces

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

There are times when only one thing is important. Just one thing. However, the most important thing is to know what that one thing is. Because one thing can be the difference between success and failure, making it or not making it, and between eternal life and eternal death. And this is very important. Let’s look into some “one” things.

Sometimes It Takes 10,001 Tries

It is recorded that the invention of the incandescent light bulb by Thomas Edison was only possible through a 10,000-step process of repeated “failures” (he did not technically consider them failures, only unproductive efforts of falling short of the desired outcome). After 10,000 attempts to invent a working light bulb, it only took “one thing” more for Thomas to experience success.

And in his own words: “I have it now, everybody will wonder why they have never thought of it, it is so simple.” The Papers of Thomas A. Edison: The Wizard of Menlo Park, 1878 pg. 505

So simple. Really? Yes, it required one more obstacle to overcome for his invention to succeed. Edison needed to find a thin conducting material that would not burn out after being subjected to electric currents and high temperatures. The “one thing” was discovered – a filament made of carbon. And the rest they say is history.

“I have it now, everybody will wonder why they have never thought of it, it is so simple.”

Troubled Dreams & One Thing

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.  And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? Genesis 41:37-38  

Pharaoh, the head of the great Egyptian empire, woke up in a cold sweat after experiencing two disturbing dreams sent from God. His troubled spirit would not relent until the mysterious events of his dream world were interpreted, and inner peace restored. But who in Pharaoh’s court could address his dilemma (Gen 41:8)? Within earshot of the conversation, the butler experienced a proverbial light bulb moment. He remembered Joseph, who interpreted his own dream years before and his interpretation was completely accurate. The butler told Pharaoh that during his imprisonment a young man named Joseph could interpret dreams. Pharoah did not hesitate and commanded for Joseph to interpret his own dreams (Gen 41:9-14).

By knowing the right person, the butler knew the one thing that would be the turning point not only for the preservation of the Egyptian empire, but also for the entire nation of Israel. And this “one thing” propelled Joseph into his God-ordained destiny as second-in-command in Egypt, and the eventual reuniting with his father and family living in Canaan (Gen 41:39-43, 45:25-28). The “one thing” in using Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, God also fulfilled Joseph’s own prophetic dreams of destiny in being elevated above his father, mother and 11 brothers (Gen 37:5-11).

Jesus & The “One Thing”

Jesus faced several situations where people valued his word or authority differently. In one situation his word’s value was being debated. In another case his word was being disparaged. And in the last scene the worth of God’s kingdom and word is protected from being devalued. Jesus knew there was “one thing” needed to resolve these conflicts before him.

The first instance was a debate Jesus got drawn into by a woman named Martha. Martha, her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus were a special family in Bethany whom Jesus often visited. The Bible records a conflict Martha had with Mary over Mary’s seemingly ill-mannered focus on listening to Jesus speak about spiritual matters, while ignoring her household chores and responsibilities (Luk 10:39).

Jesus’ response was to show Martha that Mary’s actions were justified, as his teachings and words were eternal and valuable, not replaceable by the temporal, earthly matters in her focus:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42

The next case was where the value of Jesus’ word was being disparaged. In this instance the chief priests and elders questioned the power source Jesus was connected to to teach in the temple with such anointing, poise and “authority”?

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? Matthew 21:23

In response to their hardened hearts, Jesus asked this question: “I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? ” Matthew 21:24-25

In a similar situation, this time it was the scribes and Pharisees who sat back to see if Jesus would break the law on the Sabath while exercising his God-given authority to heal sicknesses:

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. Luke 6:7

Jesus responded and silenced his critics: “I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” Luke 6:9

Our last example shows Jesus’ response when his word’s value was being challenged by a man the Bible refers to as a “rich ruler” who is seeking eternal life. This man is well-acquainted in the worldly ways of wheeling and dealing and mistakenly applies this mindset to eternal matters. And he believed that by following the “do and don’ts” of his religion, he too could inherit Heaven’s eternal reward.

As always, Jesus sees everything hidden in our hearts and also saw the one thing in this man’s heart he needed to let go to meet God’s standard of 100% obedience to His will and Word:

“One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Mark 10:21

Heaven’s value was being put to the test. Whatever the man’s life was worth, the cost of eternal life was more than that man was willing to give. May Jesus help us all to pass the test.

10,000 Times +1

Going back to the statement made by Edison, can living for God and obtaining eternal life be “so simple”? Jesus said that even the innocence and simple faith of a child is enough to “make it in” (Mat 19:14; Mar 10:14). That being the case, what is the “one thing” we need to know?

The only place in the Bible where it definitely states how to never fall in your walk with God is right here:

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 2 Peter 1:5-10

What are they? Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly kindness, and Charity (Love)

You may have failed in living for God 10,000 times and are on the verge of giving up. They may coin you “The Thomas Edison of the church world” or “Pentecost’s Thomas Edison” or wrote you off as a lost cause. However, like Edison, the answer you need, the breakthrough, the victory that will take you over to the other side is just one more try away. Call it your 10,001 moment.

You cannot see your filament not burning out from one last jolt of worldly temptation or the intense heat of another fiery dart from satan’s hordes of hell-bound spirits.

It is in times like these we really need to know and hold on to some things. And some of those things are found in the following scriptures:

• And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18
  
• And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15
• And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49
  
• And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:18-19
• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke 4:18
  
• He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:38
• And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. Acts 12:7
• Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12
• For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15
• Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. Micah 7:8

Let’s be blunt here. Oftentimes we underestimate the viciousness of the devil. satan does not wear boxing gloves. satan wears brass knuckles when he goes to war. He is not satisfied in just throwing a jab to knock you down on the mat. satan relishes and salivates for much more of you. He desires to pound your face with brass knuckles until you are not even recognizable as a human being. This is the devil’s work. He is merciless.

The key is to show the devil you are more determined to see God glorified through your life and the lives of others than the devil is determined to destroy them. And sometimes it just takes one thing – the determination of one more step forward (Jas 4:7).

One Last “One Thing” – Forget the Past & Press On!

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

The Apostle Paul understood the power of “pressing on” in the face of frustration, confusion, uncertainty, fatigue, weakness and wariness. What was his one thing? Forgetting the past while forging ahead to meet another day.

As a side note, our thoughts are sometimes provoked by the simplest things. There are two business advertisements located along the drive to and from work that have sparked thoughts about spiritual matters and the call of God to the world.

One roadside banner next to a truck dealership reads: “All applications are accepted“. Another sign placed in a pawnshop window proclaims: “We buy anything“. Of course, a business would probably not reject any application before reviewing it to see if the applicant was credit worthy enough to purchase one the $70,000 trucks on its lot. Every application is accepted.

And about the other sign. God is no respecter of persons. (Act 10:34; Rom 2:11) God has already purchased the sins of all mankind. God will buy anything. Does this mean that believing on Jesus as Savior and “accept” his atoning blood to cover our sins is all there is? And all one has to do is have enough faith to put in an application to Heaven?

The gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ I Cor 15:3-4) is God’s salvation plan, the “good news” for mankind. How does one obtain eternal life? By “one thing”, obeying the gospel and experiencing the new birth of water and spirit (Joh 3:3-8, 7:37-39; Act 2:1-4, 38-41; Eph 1:13-14). And then live a life acceptable to God, and not just any old way (Mat 25:1-2; Eph 4:22-27; 2 Cor 7:1; 1Th 3:12-13; Heb 12:14; Tit 2:12).

The gospel is our boarding pass to take the flight from this earth to Heaven. However, as with any airline boarding pass, one needs to show up at the gate with the pass to occupy the assigned seat. All is futile if one does not show up at the gate. And many things vie for our attention to distract us from the flight from this world of sin and death to eternal life in Heaven.

One saying from the trailblazers of faith went like this: “If you live easy for God it’s hard. And if you live hard for God it’s easy”.  Sometimes it’s hard to simply trust God during storms, trials, temptations and attacks by the enemy. But like Mary, Joseph, Apostles Paul and Peter, and of course, Jesus, knowing the right “one thing” is the key.

Blessings in Jesus’ Name – Amen