AdventLC

Better Than A Blue Ribbon

// June 18th, 2012 // Meditations

Bruce Dewey – Elder at the Lenoir City Seventh Day Adventist Church

Sarah really enjoyed baking and was well-known for her out-of-this-world cakes. Not only had her cakes won a number of blue ribbons at the county fair, people called on her to bake cakes for many special occasions.

Sarah’s cakes were made from scratch so she always planned ahead, looking for what she hoped would be another winning recipe, and also making sure she had all the necessary ingredients on hand.

It was county fair time again and even though Sarah could almost bake a cake blindfolded she took great care to follow directions as she mixed the ingredients, poured the mixture into a cake tin, and put it in the oven. She couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

There were many lovely cakes on display, but once again her attention to the small details paid off, and once again her cake was awarded a blue ribbon.

But supposing Sarah had been overconfident and failed to carefully follow the recipe. Or if she had said to herself, “My cakes are so good I think I can cut a few corners without anyone knowing the difference.

God has given humankind a recipe for life, not only to get us through this life but one that will enable us to have eternal life. And all the ingredients and instructions are found in the Scriptures.

It’s true that going through life is not going to be as easy as baking a cake, even is we follow instructions. But we will never achieve eternal life by having confidence in our own abilities, or by doing our own thing.

But if we if we follow God’s instructions, and rely on Him for help and guidance, we will be richly rewarded. And the reward for those who are faithful is far greater that anything this world had to offer.

If we are faithful we will be able to say, as did Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV)