ADD AN EGG
I
have read that years ago, when the Betty Crocker company first began selling
their cake mixes, they offered a product which only needed water. If you
simply poured your mix into a bowl and added the right amount of water, you
could enjoy a perfect cake. They were sure that busy moms around the
country would love this easy way to make a cake.
But it bombed. Few bought the product, and the
company didn't know why. A study provided a very surprising answer. People
were not buying the cake mix because it was just too easy. All their lives
they had been puling out all the ingredients, mixing, stirring, and baking.
The new approach, however, did not allow them to contribute to the
process.
So Betty Crocker made a simple change to the formula.
The newer mix would require an egg to be added in addition to the water -- and
it was an immediate success.
You may have
noticed that many mixes today no longer require you to add an egg. We have
gotten used to short cuts and doing things the easy way. The easier the better
has become our mantra.
It seems that many religious people have been making the
same kind of mistake when they are presenting the gospel. Sometimes,
Christianity is "packaged" with instructions that make the path to
eternal life as easy as possible. The fear is that people may not
"buy" the way of Christ if it seems too hard.
What was necessary for a tasty cake? Just add
water. What must I do to be saved? Just believe. This is what many
are told. But where in the New Testament are sinners told to "just
believe"? Believing in Christ (trusting in Him to save) is the basis
of salvation but not the only thing that is required to enter the way of Christ.
God
wants more to be added to the mix. We learn from Acts 2:38 that He expects those who believe in Jesus to add repentance and baptism in
order to receive the forgiveness of sins. I am not adding to Christ's
finished work at the cross. I am simply sharing with you the way of salvation as
revealed in the Bible. Jesus purchased our salvation; we receive it
through obedient faith.
Once you are saved, you learn that being a Christian is
not an easy life to live. We have to work out our own salvation
(Phil. 2:12). And
do note that once we take the steps to be saved and add our efforts of service,
we still have not earned our way to heaven. Salvation is free -- even as
it requires work on our part. And the reward makes it all worthwhile!
To make a cake from
a mix, add an egg. To walk in the way of the Lord, add obedience.
------- Colin Stringer.
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