Building without Fear of Inspection
Pending inspection.
Few phrases beat this one’s ability to curb enthusiasm.
A lousy inspection is the fly in the ointment of your anticipation.
The excitement of moving into a new home and starting a new chapter awaits final permission.
The sweat of construction lingers until an inspector provides validation.
Fickle inspectors, illogical city ordinances, and even corruption make inspection anxiety-inducing.
We want confidence that inspection produces approval, but we often feel like the cartoon character with the piano dangling over their head by a thread.
I understand why Christians have avoided the Bible’s descriptions of God’s inspection of our lives.
Ignoring this theme in Scripture does not eliminate the coming inspection. It increases the reasonable fear of inspection!
We will find needless loss if we build our lives without an eye to the Lord’s inspection.
How can we be excited about inspection? Build according to God’s blueprint!
The believer who carefully listens to God’s instructions and builds diligently according to His plan does not need to fear heavenly inspection.
Easier said than done!
The world is always trotting out distractions and debates to steal away our attention. We are tempted to run after fads rather than sticking with the plan.
Notice Paul’s instructions as he nears the end of his life in 2 Timothy 2:14–16:
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
Paul wants Timothy to look forward to the inspection!
Timothy will not be ashamed of his work when God examines it if he has worked hard in the Word.
The surrounding verses help clarify what a work that passes inspection looks like:
Regular reminders of the foundational Gospel truths.
Warning others about quarreling and disputes about words.
Avoiding empty conversations.
Christian, we can learn from this advice. The life we build with our words should primarily focus on what is straightforward and foundational in God’s Word.
Even after we’ve communicated the core Gospel truths, they will regularly need repeating.
We need this correction in a world that chases what is new, innovative, and exciting.
Innovated interpretations are only illusions of edification.
Debates are often distractions.
We live in a world where a new fad gospel is pitched to the church every season. But the Gospel-enneagram, love-languages, or habit routine rarely stands the test of time.
The lasting value will come from continual biblical clarity.
How does this impact the way you use your influence?
Your child, coworker, spouse, or friend needs Gospel reminders more than innovative insight.
A life committed to knowing what God says and repeating it often to those around us need not fear any inspection.
Mom, you don’t need a new book–you need the Book!
Husband, you don’t need a new course–you need the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
As we build marriages, children, friends, and churches on the Word, we can build eagerly, expecting the Lord to love this as He looks over it!