Staying on Track as Christians

Last week we were using a train track analogy to look at the priorities of the Christian Left and the Christian Right.  Both priorities are completely Christian and valid.  Both are necessary for the Body of Christ to do the work God has called us to do.  We cannot look at the rail opposite our own and believe those who follow it are unnecessary.  We cannot believe they are unbiblical simply because they are not like us.

 We need each other.  In the words of a few of my seminary professors, “We are better together.”

Yes, indeed, we are!  Furthermore, we need to be together in order to be better.

So, going back to our train track analogy, if there’s a left rail (Community) and a right rail (Individual), what holds the track together?  Jesus Christ, the Living Word.

In actual train tracks, what keeps the rails attached together?  The ties and the spikes.

But they must be secure upon a good foundation.  It needs to be solid as a rock. The rock foundation can withstand the weight of the freight.  Think about it: Rails secured to a foundation of shifting sand would never be able to keep the train from derailing.

The stability of the tracks depends on the foundation. 

What is our foundation?  The Word of God.

Building on a solid foundation, there are railroad ties that span the width of the tracks, in order to keep the rails parallel, heading toward the very same goal.  Railroad ties are like planks in our theology.  Like sound doctrine.

Tied together and working in parallel, we head toward the same goal of God Himself.  The Church makes progress toward doing God’s will—together!

With a solid foundation and precision ties that span the breadth, the rails are then secured to the ties-that-bind with spikes. Think of the spikes as the nails through Jesus’ hands.  If this is what it took on the Cross to secure the rails…onto the ties… built on the same foundation for the Christian Left and the Christian Right, shouldn’t we be willing to work together for His glory’s sake?

Jesus died for both the community of believers known as the Church, but also for the individual person who repents and confesses the Name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Solid foundation of the Word of God. Ties of sound doctrine binding Christian to Christian.  Spikes securing us in the Body of Christ as community and as individuals.  This is how Christians can avoid derailing our faith.  We can be staying on track, all the way to the salvation of our souls.

1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.