The Parable of…The Timing Belt

by Mark J. Ward


Hear now the parable of the Timing Belt: A car company developed engines called "interference engines" that damage the valves and pistons extensively when the timing belt breaks. The informational material in the Owner’s Manuals warned that the belt was to be changed every 60,000 miles to prevent this from occurring. The price for "preventive maintenance" was minimal in comparison to the enormous expense to repair the damage incurred if the belt broke.

Some folks read the owner’s manual and changed their belts on time. Others were ignorant of the matter and did nothing. Even others were short on money, would like to change the belt but through weakness did not go make payment arrangements to have the proper work done and did nothing about the matter after 60,000 miles. And still, others willingly did not change their belts knowing full well the consequences of their actions when the belt finally broke!

In time, many belts broke just as told in the owner’s manual. But some, who had taken preventive steps to have the belt replaced were not experiencing what the other car owners had to go through. ALL those who did NOT change their belts experienced a great financial loss having to spend much money in expensive repairs. The owners who were willingly driving cars with the belts past the 60,000 miles were not surprised when the damage occurred. Those who were weak financially had to get loans to pay off a greater bill than had they done the preventive maintenance. And, the folks who did not read the owner’s manual that came with their car and were ignorant of the warning were very "surprised" to suffer this great expense and to find out (only too late) how this expense and heartache could have been avoided had they but read and followed the instructions of the Owner’s Manual.

[END OF PARABLE]


[EXPLANTION OF PARABLE] The Owner’s Manual is the Bible. Those who changed their timing belts at the proper time are those who read, study, rightly divide God’s Word and apply it to their lives. Those who are "ignorant" are those who are NOT reading, studying, rightly dividing, growing and obeying God’s Word. Those who are "weak" are impenitent people who know of God’s Word but are just giving in to the devil and temptation and are putting off obeying God. And the "willful" are those who know so very much about God’s Word, but purposely stand opposed to doing right knowing the inheritance that awaits the unfaithful!

Notice the following passages that apply to us concerning following God’s Word and the matter of "ignorance", "weakness" and "willful" sins:

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. {deed: or, doing} 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.

I Corinthians 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Get the point? Already many of you do! That’s fantastic! Ignorance is not excused (Note the Acts 17:30 passage above). Weak aliens and brethren can "perish", or be lost eternally (Yes, contrary to the teaching of many today, the Bible teaches that once you are saved you CAN so sin as to be lost eternally! Please study the word "perish" found in both John 3:16 and also in I Cor. 8:11.) And, who believes that willful sinners will be saved? (Please note Hebrews 10:22-31 above again, please.) Note: There are false teachers in denominations today teaching that willful sinners WILL be saved! BEWARE! In light of eternity, what should we be doing with the "Owner’s Manual" for our life? See James 2:12.

Let’s ALL make the proper application so we BENEFIT from the parable. What are we doing about our "timing belts"? Are we working on the things that are hindering us spiritually? Let’s be resolved to do the preventive maintenance NOW and not put off having the relationship we need to have with God Almighty! Follow Him and seek to know His Will through reading, study, meditation and rightly dividing the Word of Truth (See Psalms 119:97,101,104,105 and 2 Timothy 2:15). Then, put it into practice! May God bless us in all that is right and may we always be defeated in things that are wrong! Brethren and friends, think on these things!   --mjw


Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com


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