After his resurrection from the dead Jesus met his disciples in Galilee. While Matthew specifically mentions the eleven, this mountain in Galilee may also be the place where 500 of Jesus’ brethren saw him at once (Matthew 28:16-20 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11). The eleven worshiped him, yet some doubted (Matthew 28:16-17). Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples on Mount Olivet near Bethany. This is the place of his ascension to his throne at the right hand of his Father in heaven (Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:1-12). On this occasion the disciples worshiped him and went back to Jerusalem full of joy, continually praising God in the temple, waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Nearly 2000 years later I, a worshipper and follower of Christ because of the work of these men, am writing a blog because worship prevailed and eliminated doubt. The worship of Jesus is the mainspring of the Christian faith and community. Specifically, the mainspring of the Christian life is the worship of Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) whom God raised from the dead.
A mainspring is the spring in a clock or watch that stores the energy for running the clock, causing the clock to tick tock, measuring the passage of time. Unless the mainspring is wound by a self-winding mechanism, it will need to be timely rewound. A mainspring is also a metaphor for what empowers, motivates and causes people to act with purpose and diligence. The mainspring for many is a religious cause; but people are motivated by the pursuit of honor, praise, companionship, love, money, pleasure, hate, and many other positive or negative factors. What makes you tic?
What if doubt prevailed instead of faith and worship of Jesus as the Christ? At first some doubt was understandable, but no disciple can be sent on a mission on doubt. Doubt is not a mainspring. There is no motivation and no power that is generated by doubt. Doubt provides no answers, no blessings, no action, no perseverance, no joy and no hope of reward. You cannot receive anything from God or reach the goal of God’s promise and plan on doubt. We are told that the Apostle Thomas doubted. Perhaps he has unfairly been labeled, “doubting Thomas,” because Thomas just wanted to see for himself that Jesus was really resurrected from the dead. When he saw the truth, he boldly proclaimed his worship for Jesus: “My Lord and my God!” (See John 20).
Did you gasp? Did you have to catch your breath on the worship that came from Thomas; the greatest adoration, praise and homage given to Jesus? This worship of Jesus is the mainspring of the Christian faith. Although you have not seen the resurrected Jesus as Thomas saw him, you still will be blessed if you believe his testimony about Jesus. Thomas’ confession is the truth, but the mainspring is not a self-winding acknowledgment of doctrine; rather it is genuine, heartfelt worship and submission based on the truth and trust in the person of Jesus Christ. Doubters, hypocrites, legalists and the depraved do not benefit from the fullness of the Messiah’s rule and ministry; but those who really worship the Messiah from the heart enter into the joy of his kingdom and priestly service.
After no more than five years of service, I took my self-winding Swiss-made watch to an experienced watch repairman. He examined it, and I hoped for good news, because I had paid a lot of money. He first complimented that it was a good brand, but that the self-winding feature was defective and not easily repairable. He mocked: “They thought they could make the perfect watch.” No disciple and no church are perfect and self-winding just by virtue of a pattern of sound doctrine. We all need to wound the mainspring of worship so that we are energized for service to Jesus. In heaven Jesus is honored and worshiped as the Lamb of God who was slain for our sins, the only one who is worthy of inheriting and ruling his Father’s kingdom (Revelation 5). On earth we increase our trust in the person of Christ, through genuine, heartfelt reverence and worship of Jesus as the Christ the Son of God. In this New Year I challenge every Christian to learn of the immense significance of Christ, and to embrace and worship the reality of Jesus Christ in all his revelation and glory. Make worship an ever deepening, authentic habit of your faith; and this will be the mainspring of your Christian calling, service and mission. Until we come together (Hebrews 10:19-25): Christ’s blessings in the New Year!
Citation: Buttram, Bryan. “Mainspring of Christian Living.” Bryanbuttram.wordpress.com: 2007/12/31.
1 Comment
January 3, 2008 at Thursday, January 3, 2008
Provocative metaphor, Bryan! Thanks for that. The only way we keep from winding down is to come together and provoke each other to love and good works. A flat gathering in response to legalistic expectations leaves us stuck in time, powerless, and broken. I join you in prayer that things can be different!
I hope we can get together some time soon.