One of the games I remember from my younger years was quite the illustration. In a group of young people, one person would be the “coach,” another would be the “walker” and the rest were all “distracters.” Here is how the game would unfold. The “walker” would be blindfolded and tasked with walking across a room filled with all kinds of obstacles. Beside the “walker” was the “coach” who would direct and guide the “walker.” Sounds easy enough, right? Well, placed around the room were the “distracters,” and their job was to confuse the “walker” and shout louder than the “coach” so that the walker would never make it successfully across the room. The “walker” often would simply be overwhelmed with too many commands and not be able to navigate the room at all. The only way the “walker” could be successful was to focus on the “coach” and block out the “distracters.”
It was quite an ordeal but very illustrative of life’s journey. You see, the only way to truly navigate this life successfully and reach our eternal destination is to block out the distracters and listen solely to the Coach! After being specifically told not to preach and teach by the authority of Jesus, the apostles were faced with a similar dilemma. “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29 ESV). This powerful principle was their priority, and the same must be our priority today if we are ever to reach Heaven. Consider the following.
A Certain Principle
Carefully notice throughout the book of Acts the attitude of the apostles regarding this certainty. In Acts 4, the apostles were called in question by the Jewish leaders regarding the miracles they performed and the message they proclaimed. The apostles were warned and commanded, “…not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18b). However, this certain principle overrode the opposition, and God’s men answered, “…Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). The Jewish leaders did not like that answer and threw the apostles into prison (Acts 5:18), which they thought would surely thwart the agenda and change the attitude of the apostles. Nevertheless, this certain principle was steadfast in the apostles’ hearts, and they answered for certain, “We must obey God…” (Acts 5:29). This certain principle was how the apostles and many of our first century brethren lived and died! Should we harbor less certainty concerning overriding obedience to God?
A Challenging Principle
The principle to obey God no matter what the cost is often a challenging one indeed. Obeying God was challenging to those who were given a choice to obey God or to suffer persecution (cf., the books of 1 Peter, James, Revelation, et al.). When other Christians surround us in times of peace, obeying God is not really a challenge. However, when we find ourselves at school, on a date, in the locker room, at the water cooler, among unbelievers or on the job site, obeying God can become a challenging feat. Young people are being loudly distracted each day with issues of morality, and sometimes the Coach’s voice is muffled. I may take a firm stand for God’s authority to withdraw from the disorderly, but when the disorderly is one of my family members, obeying God can be quite challenging. I believe in the fruits of the Spirit way of life until someone crosses me or mistreats me, and then obeying God is a challenge! To obey God is not always the easiest way to live our lives, but we can rest assured it is the best way!
A Costly Principle
When we take the principle of obeying God to heart, we can be certain that it will be costly. Sometimes folks erroneously believe that obeying God will somehow cost them next to nothing, but that has never been the case. Even the apostles who made this choice to obey God instead of men had to pay with their own blood. Jesus warned that many were going to have to pay a great deal to obey God (Revelation 2:10). Jesus warned each would-be disciple to count the cost before agreeing to follow Him (Luke 14:28-32). Obeying God is to take up one’s own cross, deny self and follow Jesus each and every day (Luke 9:23). Obeying God even cost His sinless Son His life (Luke 22:42). Most folks are always looking for a bargain in life, but when it comes to obeying God, there are no bargains, no shortcuts and no freebies! Obeying God is a costly principle.
Like participants in a blindfolded contest, Christians are called to listen to one and only one voice. Life holds numerous loud distractions that can muffle our Coach – Jesus. Yet, if we determine to focus and concentrate solely on Him, we can navigate this obstacle-filled world and successfully reach Heaven. It really comes down to one thing, which is, “Will we obey God rather than man?” Obeying God will never be easy, but it will always be right! We must obey God!
