TITLE: A COMPLAINT NO ONE HAS EVER REGISTERED

Resources to aid your Understanding

Subtitle: Ever Hear Anyone say, "I Received Jesus Christ As My Savior And Am Dissatified"?

Most of us get upset when we spend good money for a product that fails to perform as advertised--or works great for a few days and then breaks. We make purchases with the reasonable expectation they will function properly and have a life expectancy somewhat commensurate with the cost. But things that are relatively inexpensive and poorly made usually do not irritate us too much when they "give up the ghost," because we understand they were not made with longevity in mind.

And with this being the case, I seriously doubt if there is anyone reading this who has never had to return a product and request a refund--or at the very least, wanted to do so. "Murphy's Law" dictates that if it can go wrong--it will--and for quite a few of us, Murphy must be a blood relative. However, while it is true some people could wreck a chrome-plated anvil with a rubber hammer,  much of the time the fault is with the product itself. Thankfully, most retailers today will replace the item or refund the purchase price without a big hassle.

Therefore, since it is a fact product warranties are made necessary because things break or fail to work work properly,  would you not agree anything providing 100% satisfaction should get everyone's attention???

Due to our fallen and sinful nature, Christians express dissatisfaction with all sorts of things, both real and imagined. We find fault with those holding to different doctrinal positions; with denominational affiliations, church situations, pastors and each other--just to name a few! But I have never known or heard of anyone who has expressed disappointment with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Have you? Oh, I have run across a few who, in their ignorance, have been upset because they thought He was supposed to make them rich and didn't. Or others who foolishly tried to blame Him when a loved one died--yet to my knowledge there has never been a single individual who has truly experienced His saving grace, then wanted "their money back."

Jesus Christ is not a lemon. The salvation He purchased is guaranteed forever and its warranty written in His own blood. God dictated the terms of the transaction in the Bible and stated they will never change. Then to make it the most stupendous bargain ever advertised, He freely offers it to all who will receive it by faith!!!! No tricks, no gimmicks, no "small print" designed to trap the unwary.

Another interesting thing about human nature is our willingness to tell others about a bargain. Good deals and/or product satisfaction usually result in someone telling someone else how they can get in on it too. And that is precisely the motivating force behind the Gospel message. The Holy Spirit prompts "satisfied customers" to tell others about what Jesus Christ has done for them and they gladly pass on the recommendation. Are we not much more likely to seek out a certain product when someone tells us how good it is or how well it works? Without a doubt! And that is why our active testimony for the Lord  is so vitally important. When we let others know about Him and the wonderful blessings He has bestowed on us--the more likely some will listen to what we have to say.

In a sense, coming to Jesus Christ by faith is very similar to purchasing a computer for the first time! Those who have learned to use them efficiently tell others about what can be accomplished, but there is an initial reluctance to take the plunge--especially by those of us who are older. All the technical talk about bites, megabites, gigabites, hard drives, CD burners, etc., etc., have little or no meaning for the uninitiated and most are overwhelmed by such things! Then only as they summon up the courage to get their feet wet by taking baby steps into the wading pool, can the process of learning how to use the beast make any headway. But once that initial step of faith is taken, we grab the mouse, type on the keyboard, make mistakes, learn what works, and what not to do next time! And it is essentially the same with a relationship with Christ. There is always an initial and understandable reluctance to enter into something blind--regardless of how wonderful others tell us it is. Too much information of a technical nature at the outset only serves to confuse and hinder progress. That is why God intended the Gospel message to be so simple! And what could be more simple than Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. That He was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Then  He was seen by Peter and the other Apostles--plus  a group of over 500 believers at one time!

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: [6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 1 Cor. 15:3-6 (KJV)

 The word "Gospel" means "good news" and this is it in a nutshell, my friends! Jesus Christ died in the place of those whom He saves, so do not make the mistake of trying to convey a degree in theology when you tell others about Him. There is supernatural power--dunamis, in the Greek (the root word for "dynamite")--in this extremely simple message and it always gets the job done according to God's good and perfect will. Trying to explain the theological concepts of propitiation, vicarious atonement, and the impeccability of God's Son to someone who is spiritually dead is ridiculous! Just give them the Gospel and get out of the way. If the Holy Spirit is in the process of drawing them to the Savior, the only message that will register is the simple, but supernatural one. Tell them what Christ's death, burial, and resurrection has done for you and trust the Lord to supply the rest. This "sales formula" utilizing satisifed customers to to pass the Word has proved to be successful countless times over the past two thousand years. And all who seek to improve this message with plans and programs are dead wrong!

Man's relationship with God was broken beyond human repair when Adam sinned intentionally. He was not deceived and knowingly partook of the forbidden fruit (1 Tim.2:14). And that act of disobedience on his part doomed all his progeny to spiritual death! So from that day until this, each and every individual born into this world is "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph.2:1) and cannot be returned for a warranty settlement! Jesus Christ is the only One capable of fixing the problem, because He alone possesses the keys of death and hell (hades):

 "And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead). Rev. 1:18 (Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible).

Christ's possession of these keys is figurative of His authority over our eternal destiny. And make no mistake about it: with reference to the possibility of repair (salvation), it is either His way or the highway!

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" John 14:6 (KJV)

Once standing upon a beautiful beach of sand, your spiritual dwelling has been rendered a useless pile of broken timbers and shattered glass by the mighty hurricane of sin. And no construction crew on earth can use those mangled materials to rebuild it. If you are ever to have a new one, the Carpenter from Galilee must do it. So in order to avail yourself of His services, you must come to Him with empty hands and by faith humbly ask for it--because the price is infinitely beyond your ability to pay! That potential new "house" literally cost Him His life and only faith in His willingness to deliver can make it a reality. Then, as is always the case in such transactions, "earnest money" is required--but amazingly this process will be in reverse. If you meet His requirements, the Holy Spirit will take up residence within you as the earnest while the eternal house is being built in heaven!

 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" Ephes. 1:13-14 (KJV)

Does this sound too good to be true? Sure it does, but in this case we have God's Word on it. So if you are tired of trying to weather the storms of life huddled under a shack put together from scraps--call on Heaven's Contractor and reverently ask Him for one of His mansions. There is no obligation on His part to respond, but if He deems your attitude and heart motive for asking to be right, He has promised to deliver. Call on Him today, because you may not be alive tomorrow--and bear in mind physical death renders the promise invalid.

If you have been born again and received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but have been very lukewarm in your spiritual walk with Him, you need to immediately ask Him for forgiveness and for renewal. He will instantly forgive you, and fill your heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible Study.

If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, but have come to sense His reality and the approaching End of the Age, and want to receive His FREE Gift of Eternal Life, you can do so now, in the privacy of your home. Once you truly believe in Him as Lord and Savior, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually. If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation Page now.

We hope you have been blessed by this ministry, which seeks to educate and warn people, so that they can see the coming New World Order—Kingdom of Antichrist—in their daily news.

Return to Pastoral Articles index

Finally, we would love to hear from you. You can write us at:
Cutting Edge Ministries, C/O Pastor Ron Riffe
P.O. Box 26
Gordo, AL 35466

You can also E-Mail  Pastor Ronald Riffe  regarding questions or comments about this article.

God bless you.