We’ve all heard the phrase “He lacks a few bricks having a full load”. “Her elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top”, is another. Regardless of which one you use, the message is basically the same: He-She-It lacks the necessary requirements to meet the current need. Most of the time, these gibes are uncalled for because the person in question knows they are falling short already. Adding to their discomfort only speaks to the shortcomings of the speaker just as much as the one who is struggling to live up to the expectations of others.
However, there are times when our stubbornness and pride warrants such phrases if nothing more than an indication that a change is in order. When this happens one can only hope that we learn a positive lesson from the experience!
These thoughts lend themselves to our Faith, as well. You see, we can not afford to come up short of the hope of salvation. The writer of the book of Hebrews writes: “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Heb 4:1-2
We can’t come up ‘a few bricks short’ and be acceptable to God. Either we are “in Christ Jesus” or we have fallen short of the high calling of God.
Sadly, this is the state of most religious people today. There are a myriad of religions which seen to be ‘Christian’ but which fall far short of the standards of Scripture regarding the one true Faith. They say they are followers of Christ but do not or will not adhere to the commandments of our Lord. These issues fall into the categories of salvation as well as worship in God’s church. This is so because there are specific things required to have salvation as well as the commanded form and pattern of The Bride of Christ.
When it comes to NT Christianity, one can not depend upon Man to guide our steps. Either we are completely subservient to our Lord or we are not. That is not to say we have to be perfect, but it does demand that we are willing to accept the clear and plain commandments of our Lord. It is possible to ‘come up short’. Only careful awareness of our ‘walk in life’ will assure that we don’t.
So today, we will speak to the issue of Needing Six, but Giving Three.
