Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: LOCKED (10/27/22)
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TITLE: Passing Through The Locks | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
11/02/22 -
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By controlling the water levels in the locks, ships traversing the canal are either elevated or lowered to the next lock, allowing them to pass through the canal.
The Panama Canal, for example, allows passage from the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean (and vice-versa), greatly reducing the time and expense of having to otherwise sail around the South American Continent.
Especially when in the ascending mode, this provides a great visual aid illustrating how a born-again believer overcomes what would otherwise be insurmountable obstacles along the road to spiritual maturity.
To enter the canal (the post salvation spiritual-life), one must have a suitable vessel capable of navigating through each lock (phase) of the canal.
The lock masters (pastor-teachers) supply the necessary amount of water (advanced Bible Doctrine) for the next level of the canal (post salvation spiritual life).
Many born-again believers drift along unprepared, setting the stage for spiritual shipwreck.
Hebrews 5:12 NASB puts it this way; “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach YOU the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food (advanced doctrine).”
Until one is born-again, he or she, cannot enter the canal of the post salvation spiritual life; let alone advance through it to spiritual maturity.
There are no alternative routes to spiritual maturity!
Those who “go around the continent” will eventually reach the same destination (1), but will fail to become all that God had in mind for them during their time here on Earth.
God does not reward work left undone (2).
The salvation process is the irreversible work of. (3) of God.
This work, performed by God, is made immediately and complete the moment that one is born again, and remains intact throughout all of eternity (4).
However, reaching and maintaining spiritual maturity is a life-long process (5).
The enabling power to propel the vessel forward comes from God (6).
The ancient people of God followed the cloud through the wilderness. The amount of time spent in each stop along the way was determined by the One in control.
In a canal, it is the lockmasters (pastor-teachers) supplying the necessary level of water (doctrine) in each lock that prepares the advancing disciple for when the next move is to be made.
In the course of one's post salvation spiritual life, God prepares the believer, and makes the necessary arrangements for the next phase of the individual plan (5) that God has in mind for the advancing disciple.
One cannot enter the next lock in the canal of the post salvation spiritual life until God has prepared the way, and the believer has prepared himself.
One prepares himself by continuing to grow in God's grace and knowledge (8). One advances by applying (9) all that he has learned to what he thinks, says, and does.
Just as electronic locomotives and cables can assist the ships while navigating through a canal, the mutual support of fellow believers can help each other stay centered and on course through the canal of their post salvation spiritual life.
In closing, a 2Cor. 13: 5 self examination will determine if one is just drifting along or if one has entered the canal of the post (after) salvation spiritual life and is advancing towards the goal of spiritual maturity.
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(1) Romans 8: 1 (2) 1Cor. 3: 15 (3) Titus 3: 5 /Eph. 4: 30 (4) Rom. 8: 1 (5) 2John 1: 8) (6) John 15: 5 (7) 1Cor. 12: 7, 11, 18 (8) 2Pet. 3: 18 (9) James 1: 22
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