I’m so glad that The Bridge from OneDayBow didn’t end on page 98. “What do you mean by that?”, you might ask. Had Tim continued in laziness and irresponsibility, there really wouldn’t have been any reason to keep writing – or reading. But he’s just a kid, acting like a kid. Right? Maybe, but the situation for Tim was really more serious than what meets the eye.

Before I go on further, let me say that Tim’s temporary disregard for the Truth was not fatal and it didn’t need to be the end. But Tim would learn that you can’t set the Truth aside in order to satisfy yourself and expect it to be no big deal. Yes, we all fall short. Yes, we all can revert back to bad behavior. But if you follow a King you better know that He is serious about that and we better be too.

Okay, you guessed it. I’m talking to Christians now.

In John 8:31-32 (New Testament of the Bible), Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Let’s break that down a little. First, Jesus is speaking to people who believed in Him. He gives them a quick test to determine if they are His disciples – those who really follow Him – and it starts with an “if”: “…if you remain faithful to My teachings…” Jesus is talking about free-will choice, and what it means to His followers. To make it even more plain; discipleship is proven by an obedient response to the truth of Jesus’ words. While that may seem obvious, saying it isn’t the same as consistently doing it.

But don’t miss the promise that comes in verse 32. Continued obedience to what we know to be true will lead to increased understanding and conviction of the truth. And obeying the truth as presented in God’s Word will set us free. Free from what? From error. From drifting away. From skating away permanently. Now you see why this was such a serious matter for Tim. Following the King comes with responsibility that should never be taken lightly. The King is watching and aware, and so are others. As we’ll see next time.

I love the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 2:4: “… God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance…” When we understand the truth about this great God that we have put our trust in, and the immense kindness He shows in leading us to repent, it should be the most natural thing to turn away from all wrong and back to following Him. Which means, you pick up where you left off in discipleship to Jesus.

I’m happy to report that in chapter 22 of The Bridge from OneDayBow, that is exactly what Tim did. Hooray, Truth wins!!! But that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences…