It's been years since I have ridden a bus. When I got my first job as a teenager I had get to work on a bus. It was a forty-five minute ride and I was given a paper transfer because my bus did not go where I needed to go. This enabled me to catch another bus which would take me to work and use the paper transfer instead of paying any more money. Transfers are a good thing.
The Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament is filled with instructions given to Moses regarding worship in the new Tabernacle. The priests had special clothing all made to order according to Jehovah-God. The furniture had been designed by God Himself and had been carefully crafted by talented workmen. The stone tablets on which God's finger had carved out the commandments by which the Israelite people were to live lay in the Ark of the Covenant. All of this was most impressive and it was meant to be. A new way of life was given to God's chosen people.
Centuries went by and it all became even more impressive when the temple was built under King Solomon's rule. All of this beauty and expensive ornamentation, all of this "sparkle" had blinded them. They were God's chosen and even obeying the commandments and offering animal sacrifices added to their pride. It was natural to look down on others and believe all their good works satisfied God.
They had stepped into the 'bus' headed for heaven labeled "You can do it". They were trusting in their own ability to be good enough to satisfy a righteous God. Some of those on this bus believed their baptism or church membership or helping the poor would do it. Some believed that by not committing adultery or murder or stealing made them good enough. This bus was filled with people from every nation and ethnicity, men and women, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, this bus of good works.
There had been another bus at the bus stop and it was labeled "Jesus did it all". It had not been appealing to all those who had entered "You can do it" because the idea that they had no part in proving how good they were undercut their self esteem. Fortunately, there were transfers on that bus which would enable them to get off and catch the right bus to heaven. Some came to their senses as the prodigal son did when he realized how foolish he had been and turned around to go to his father and they requested a transfer. They knew deep down that there had been hatred in their hearts and lust and envy and the surface good they could do couldn't erase the wrong in them. The transfer was a good thing.
Please note: my renewal for this site is coming up soon and I am wondering if I should continue "spouting". I would appreciate your input. Please leave a comment in the comment box. Above all, make sure you are on the "Jesus did it all" bus to heaven.
