It was only a tiny leak in a gasket — a trivial, little leak —but the oil dripped out and the motor ran hot and dry and the vacation trip was spoiled for the whole family. It was just a little cause, but such a disappointing result.
Only a scrap of metal—a tiny, tiny tip of a broken knife blade—but it was left in the compass box of the ship. The compass was deflected just a little bit, but it was enough to turn the ship off course and onto the rocks. What an expensive disaster—for a knife worth no more than a dollar or two.
It didn't take much to bring the Challenger down either. Only an O-ring, an O-ring that failed, and seven lives and millions of dollars were lost. Was that a little thing?
The smallest thing—the worst result—seemed only a little act of disobedience. Only to eat of the fruit "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil"—and what a terrible result for the whole human race! Sin and sickness and sorrow, death and disaster, all came from that one act.
Worst of all, it separated man from God. Man, created in the image of God, created to be His companion and to walk and talk in the garden of Eden with his Creator, hid at the approach of God and has been seeking to distance himself from God ever since.
Look at the world today—there is none that seeketh after God—they are all gone astray—the fear of God is not in all their thoughts. What a morass of evil we are living in!
Is there no way out? No way back?
Yes, but we are not talking about "little things" now. To bridge the gap between God and man, to make human beings again fit to be in the presence of God, cost the greatest price in all time and eternity. It cost nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, to cleanse us from sin and reconcile us to God.
The Lord Jesus has done it all, has given His life for us. Now what great work should we do to gain this salvation? What does God require of us?
"This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John 6:29.
Just believe? What else?
Well, "I will take the cup of salvation." Psa. 116:13.
Just receive? Like a gift?
It is a gift. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.
Isn't there anything we can give Him in return?
Yes, just "let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." Heb. 13:15.
That's it: believe—receive—and don't forget to thank Him!
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.