If It Ain’t Broke . . .
We’ve all heard the above phrase, and know the ending: . . . don’t fix it! We surely understand that this means: “If something is working as designed, and as it is supposed to, why bother it? Other ways of saying this might be: leave well enough alone, or never change a running system. This saying has been around since the early 1970’s. Isn’t it ironic that it was popularized in 1977 by T. Bert Lance of the Jimmy Carter administration?
It is indisputable that God’s Word and God’s plan for the Salvation of souls is without flaw and God’s part in that plan is faultless. Every part of the God-Head, and the plan They put in place is absolutely perfect, and will result in the saving of souls if followed correctly. Romans 12:1-2 supports this as the brethren there were told how to live as Christians. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
An additional passage for support of the fact that God’s Word is all that is needed for sinful man is James 1:25. This also provides an admonition to all who claim to follow the Lord. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Notice if you will, that God’s Law here is called the “perfect Law of liberty”. Per this verse, one must continue to look into the Word, remain in it, and keep “doing” (which means follow it), as His Holy Word directs. This perhaps is why in Philippians 2:12 the Spirit had Paul write: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Christ provided the only Sacrifice (His blood) that can cleanse a soul, and the Holy Spirit delivered God’s Holy Word to the church through inspiration so we can know how to access that blood. Additionally, we are provided the direction within God’s Word to live while here on this earth so that we can ultimately spend eternity with Him. 2Peter 1:3-4 informs us God has given all we need and promises looking forward. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Since that plan & everything about it is perfect, and “not broken”, why does man try to “fix it”?
Could it be possible that those trying to “fix” God’s plan for Salvation don’t truly know that plan? Are they trying to “obtain” Salvation in other ways than prescribed by God in His Word? Remember what Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 10:1? He said: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Those who are foolish enough to try “fixing” the perfect plan of Salvation are surely in that category. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
What about Christians, those who have once obeyed the gospel, are some of them guilty of trying to “fix” God’s plan? Some are, because as far back as Galatians 3:1 there were some who were seeking to “alter” God’s plan and deceive folks. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Were they not warned in the first part of that same letter in what we have as Galatians 1:6-8? I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Let us not be deceived or bewitched that God’s plan has changed. It has not, and therefore does not need fixing!
God produced the plan and the means for us to attain Salvation. That plan is perfect, unbroken and needs not to be “fixed”. That plan was delivered and promises given beginning in Acts 2:38-39. The promise was the gift of the Holy Ghost which is eternal life. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 1John 2:25 shows that we “hath” it in promise. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Since we have not yet received that final reward, rather than try to fix something that is unbroken, why not follow that perfect plan? The Spirit has Paul put it this way in Philippians 3:13-14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The plan of God ain’t broke! Don’t try to fix it – follow it, it will save your soul.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
