The Proof of the Pudding
During a conversation with a longtime acquaintance of mine, who I had not seen or spoken to in many years, we talked about a third party whom we both know and love, and who was going through a particular dilemma in their life. This dilemma was one about which the Bible has very specific instructions of how to act. My acquaintance pointed out that this third party was suffering extreme unhappiness because they were torn between adhering to these instructions and wanting happiness in their life by disobeying what the Bible says about their situation. I have in-depth knowledge of this person’s situation and know them to be both a born again and spirit-filled Christian. Through having had the experience of being in the same situation I have a great understanding of the pain caused by such a choice. The pathway I took did not eradicate or solve my situation and I knew that, for this person to continue leading the life they were now living, it would result in the same unhappiness and devastation that I had suffered. But, I also knew that when I succumbed to and obeyed the instructions that the Bible has given, even though there was pain and anger at having to put my desires aside, the final result was to find a true and fulfilling life in the Lord.
I tried to explain this to my acquaintance and was met with the statement that they viewed the Bible as being “just a book which was written by men, and was very much outdated by today’s lifestyles and what is now socially acceptable.” And, because it was written by men, it contains great inaccuracies, personal opinions, and gives no proof of it being God’s actual words.
As you can imagine, as an ordained, spirit-filled, minister, I found this very disturbing. The absolute rejection and the argumentative way in which that statement was given saddened me.
I most definitely did not want to get into an argument with my acquaintance because the Lord never wants us to defeat another person and drag them screaming to Salvation. So, we agreed to differ, said our goodbye pleasantries, and ended the conversation.
However, I was left wondering how I could introduce the truth of the Bible itself without trying to force-feed it to my acquaintance, or anybody else that I might come across in the future who might have the same view. So, I did what each of us born-again Christians should do whenever we have a dilemma ourselves, or at least, should do. I prayed and asked the Lord for guidance.
I have often spoken about how the Lord teaches me; how often He uses examples of things that are easily relatable to the situation that I’m either trying to understand or to be able to teach in a manner that is not offensive but instructive. Simple, yet informative. Sometimes He will provide mental images to enhance His point. (This is also why we will use illustrations or pictures to help our students understand the point being made or the lesson being offered.)
My Lord also knows that I love chocolate, and pretty much, anything that has chocolate in it is perfectly acceptable to me. The teaching He gave me is all about making chocolate pudding….
The lesson is very simple. If you have never made chocolate pudding before, you would take a recipe book, and follow the instructions. If you do this and follow the instructions to the letter, the result should be perfectly good chocolate pudding. The way that you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is a perfectly good chocolate pudding, is by tasting it. Simple.
Now, you will not only enjoy the benefits of enjoying that chocolate pudding, but you will also have confidence in that recipe book because it has given you good instructions which if you have followed perfectly, it will have resulted in the desired end. The promised result.
So, if this recipe book has proved itself by producing that desired end, are you not highly likely to return to it when you want another chocolate pudding?
And, is it not also true that you will eventually come to know that specific recipe by heart so that you can produce the desired result time after time?
And, is it not also true that, if you desired a different recipe for a different type of pudding, that you would likely return to that same recipe book and seek out the new recipe with the confidence that you will receive the same, good and complete instructions that will result in the success and same positive result as before, for the new pudding?
And, is it not also true that the more positive results you get from your recipe book, the more confidence you will place in it, and the more times you will refer to it? Even telling your friends about it!
The secrets behind the success and the desired result come from firstly having, and then following the instructions laid down in your recipe book.
Perhaps, you may just take up that recipe book and browse through it, and as you browse through it something may catch your
eye, something that you might like, desire, or want to know how to make. (How to achieve the desired result.) Next, you search out and read the desired recipe. Then you take note of the ingredients that are required (because if you miss one out, like the chocolate, you will not end up with chocolate pudding!) and mix them together in the way that you are instructed to do so. Finally, you would make your chocolate pudding. But you are only going to enjoy it if you have followed those instructions to the letter. If you change the recipe or interpret it incorrectly, the desired result will never come.
A good recipe book is one that has recipes which have proven to be successful, resulting in what that recipe is meant to produce. So, our point is, that if you treat the Bible in the same simple way that you would treat a recipe book, the desired result will come to pass.
If you pick up a Bible, and just simply begin to read it, I guarantee that you will find something that you may want to investigate further or something that you find very difficult to believe or accept. Something that you might feel is controversial. Something that you may find impossible to believe. Something that you may feel is no longer relevant or socially acceptable in these times.
If you are searching for a specific answer, you will find it in the Bible. This may be difficult to understand but the Lord promises you that the answers are contained therein. In the same way, as you follow the recipe for the chocolate pudding, follow the instructions of the Bible. Just as you validate a recipe book by the results that are achieved, validate the Bible by the results that it will achieve for you. But only if you follow the instructions to the letter. That may mean studying much further!
There may be many things that you do not understand, many things that require instruction, and, just like some cooking shows help you with recipes and instructions of how to use (say) specific kitchen appliances, ministers are called to teach you and help you understand the application of the Bible, it’s promises in the great love that is offered for, and to you, contained within its covers.
Eagles Wings Ministry is also a facility that exists to teach you and help you understand just exactly why the Bible exists and the truth of what it contains. Just browsing through our website will help you begin or continue your journey with the Lord. Please take advantage of it, and of our sincere desire for your betterment and growth as a child of God and, hopefully as a disciple of His.
As a conclusion
If the pudding does not bring the desired result, then you would more than likely try to find out what was wrong. You will check the recipe book to make sure that you have gathered all the necessary ingredients. And, assuming you have, you will reread the instructions to make sure you both understand them and have carried them out correctly.
Failure to achieve the desired result will only happen due to the failure of one or more of three factors:
1. If the recipe or the recipe book is inaccurate.
If this turns out to be the case, then both the recipe and the recipe book are invalid. Once any recipe has failed, then it is quite likely that you would be very reluctant to try that recipe ever again, and perhaps will be reluctant to ever refer to that book anymore. But, when you consider that if the recipe succeeds, then the book will gain credibility. You will have more confidence in the content and much more likely to refer to the recipe book for other recipes. This is true of any book of instructions, or manual that teaches how to accomplish a desired result. Once used, and once proven, that book or manual becomes more and more valuable to you.
The Bible is no different. Whilst it is the beautiful revelation of the love of the Lord God Almighty towards us, it also contains the instructions of how to live our lives in such a way that they become joyful, productive, and purposeful in the ways that the Lord intended for us from the very beginning.
Just like the recipe book it requires that it be read, ingredients gathered, and the instructions contained within it be followed to the letter. Then and only then will the desired results manifest.
2. Gathering the ingredients
In our example of the chocolate pudding, it portrays the desire to have and to want to produce a specific thing. So, taking our recipe book, we will search out the specific recipe to produce a chocolate pudding.
In exactly the same way if we are wanting to discover how to achieve, or overcome a specific situation, we have to search out the specific ingredients necessary to produce the desired result in our, lives we have to follow the same procedure. If we are desiring something, we refer to our recipe book, the Bible, to discover what the ingredients and instructions are to achieve that desired result. To discover what we need to gather. The ingredients for success.
3. Correctly following the instructions
It becomes obvious, usually by failure, that we have not followed the recipe instructions to the letter for it to succeed and for us to achieve our desired result.
To give you a biblical example of the desired result for something that you might want to overcome, or, get rid of in your life, let’s refer to a specific Scripture in Mark, chapter 11, verses 22–23
And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
In this example, Jesus makes a statement that you can have whatsoever you say. His instructions are:
Have faith in God – find the recipe, read it, then carry it out.
- Say unto this mountain (speaking specific instructions, “… Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea…”) This is taking the ingredients and putting them together, in the correct manner, and following the instructions.
- Believe without doubt, that the things you say will come to pass. At the outset, believing that the recipe book works and that someone before you has already tested it. At the very least, hoping that your desired result will come.
This Bible is a simple recipe book and one you should try out for yourself. Billions have discovered it to be true.
The mountain to which Jesus is referring is the problem that you are experiencing, and one that you desire to get rid of or overcome. Debt, sickness, even hunger are examples of “mountains” that may arise in your life. Let us say that you desire that chocolate pudding, but when you put the ingredients together you omit the chocolate. Are you going to get your chocolate pudding? No. But if you follow the recipe to the full, the only way that you will know for certain that the recipe works, is true and accurate, is to taste the pudding for yourself.
Truly, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!
I sincerely desire my friend, my acquaintance, discovers the truths in the Bible, and comes to Salvation. This is our desire for everyone.
It is also our desire at Eagles Wings Ministry to accomplish for and with you the same truths so that you can benefit from
becoming born again but, just like the Eagle, to rise to the highest heights to truly fulfill God’s will for your life and the purpose for which you alone were born. You are so unique, and therefore so precious to this world and only you can achieve that unique purpose for which you were born. The choice is yours, and we are here to support you in every way that we can through the knowledge of the Lord God Almighty completely contained within His recipe book called the Bible.
Our Systematic Discipleship Program is designed to teach and support you in that very manner using the very tools that the Lord has given us in the teachings that He has revealed to us. Truly, the Bible is the recipe for success in our lives!
(If you wish to know more about this program, click the following Link)
The Systematic Discipleship Program
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