CHAPTER 17: THE SAFETY NET OF REDUNDANCY AGAINST COMPLACENCY, A SILENT DEADLY DESTROYER 2024
I always say there is no plan B, we go with Plan A, God’s plan. However, Plan A does need back up systems, that’s different from a plan B. In the case of a failed piece of equipment in plan A, any good machine needs a redundant back-up that kicks in so all is not lost, operating behind the scenes, at all times in parallel to the master systems.
For instance, if your truck runs out of gas and there is an auxiliary tank, boom, a redundant system, the truck is back up and running. If the GPS auto-pilot fails on an airplane and the analog compass is accurate, …back on course. If the electricity in the city fails, and a house is equipped with a generator, the lights still work.
Fellowship is a redundant system for Believers. God’s Word is a back-up system, always running in the background of the mind. Redundancy is the stop-gap against complacency, if it is truly operational. When things get lazy, a strong back-up system, prayer, the Word, fellowship, is life-saving and ensures Plan A is not lost. What if the redundant system has not been serviced properly and simply doesn’t work? Then there’s a problem.
1 Corinthians 1:18
New International Version
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The bible is a difficult book because it came from the infinite to the finite, from the unlimited all powerful God, to the limited man. Doing bible study without a teacher, commentary, notes, prayer or home group is dangerous. Why? Because it’s just me without a qualified technician.
Ever tried to fix your own air conditioner, or the electric, perhaps tune up the lawn mower? Without help, in the end, it’s a mess. Oh, maybe now and then you get it right, but who wants to bet your life on “now and then.” Let me explain the difference between the Bible and Man’s teaching. All of us could understand the writings of Plato or Socrates possibly in one reading. Study the great philosophers with the natural mind, and by diligent application, one will grasp their profound meanings. God says these things are not necessary.
1 Corinthians 1:20
New International Version
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
If the Bible could be understood by natural man, it would be a natural book, and could not be the Word of God. Since the Bible is from God, and therefore spiritual, before you can receive its teachings, you must be born of the Spirit, John 3:6 and filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18.
The bible is in fact, part of the Plan A, and is on-board all systems given to us by God, if we choose to use it correctly. If not complacency wins, and we set down the most important. What if you don’t set it down?
John 16:12-15
New International Version
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
How do I access God 110% of the time? Let’s first identify complacent. Complacent is “the not caring of things to be done.”
Drive a car without looking in the mirrors, not good. These days cars have been given redundant back-up systems to stop before collision, alert lane changes, actually drive the car, because all of us have become complacent drivers. Look both ways before crossing the street or get hit by a car, complacency is dangerous.
Scripture interrupts spiritual complacency and complacency in daily life. If there a problem to be solved, spiritual or world, the mind is busy with the matter.
A redundant system needs be aware of where the feet are walking, what the mouth is saying and where the heart is. Otherwise awareness fumbles the ball, the mouth will say something it shouldn’t, the feet will walk somewhere not good, and the heart will fool the mind. How can one possess such a system that would offer avoidance options?
Romans 15:4
New King James Version
4 For whatever things were written before, ..were written for our learning, ..that we through the [a]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
It’s important in a business to check numbers everyday, charge card, deposits and bank transactions, respond to emails, take vitamins, eat correctly, work out consistently, tend to relationships — there’s a lot to do. Who reminds you to do that?
The world created cell phone with alerts, professional assistants, employees, even children. What reminds you to live a righteous life? The world says nobody needs God anymore. Don’t subscribe to such things.
Job 27:11-12
New King James Version
“I will teach you [a]about the hand of God; What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
Surely all of you have seen it; Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?
1 Corinthians 2:6 New International Version
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
Without the Holy Spirit, best have advisors that are amazing in all areas of life. Pretty hard to find selfless geniuses that care only for the good of me, for the sake of all things good for me. Without God, that’s what I better have when my enemies show up. Israel, of the past and the present, has had and does have many enemies, and no matter how well the army is prepared, they were, in this example, still at risk and needed a G-O-D back-up system because the main system would clearly fail. This is what happened on a day in the year 811 BCE. A King Asa under siege at the hands of an Ethiopian army.
2 Chronicles 14:11-13 New King James Version
11 And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” 12 So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the Lord and His army. And they (the Israelites) carried away very much [a]spoil.
Redundancy is a powerful advantage, especially if God is your back-up system. However, any back-up system is worthless if you don’t know how to use it. Without fellowship and correct teaching, it’s very hard. Correct handling of the primary system of life is freewill and freewill without competent instruction is, at some point, going to fail. How do we learn? Scripture and teaching, prayer and fellowship, and a lot of it.
Matthew 18:20
where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),
Let’s check out some failed redundant systems that everybody initially thinks is a very good idea:
Charge cards for payroll
Credit to customers without a payment schedule
Hard money lenders
Self help books, the bible is outdated: failed system
Using corporate money ear marked for taxes
Weekly financial report’s not important, I got it all in my head
No church, no bible study, no ministry, not important..
All of the above failed back-up systems
Chapter 17 is about the need for redundancy that works. Many of you have wives who care and are excellent back-up systems for reminders and careful adjustments. Many of you have extra vehicles in case of a problem. All of you have an authentic Chief Financial Officer, who has a system back-up in an excellent partner, all of you have a qualified CPA and an extremely knowledgeable book keeper. Many eyes backing up the other for your benefit and safety, all Believers, all walking the path in a diligent manner. Perfect. However, 17 is focusing on God, the premier, absolute Care-giver, Creator, Designer, Judge and Jury, Knowledge and Wisdom, main Artery to impossible problems created with you in mind. The World has forgotten this back-up system and it is now failing nearly everywhere including the church. Be sure you are not one of the forgetful.
Matthew 13:14-16
New King James Version
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I [a]should heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
C.S. Lewis, in “The Screwtape Letters”, writes “a moderated religion is as good as no religion at all…” and it seems to coincide with Revelation 3:16 when it talks about being lukewarm in our faith. We have become complacent. Furthermore, sometimes we have even become complacent in the fact that we are complacent! We have lost motivation, as well as our sight of what should be the driving force of our lives.
Matthew 22:14-16
English Standard Version Anglicised
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
John 1:5 New International Version
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
Who is your redundant system? God? How do you know it is God? The bible says satan can impersonate an angel of light? You need a back-up system to your back-up system. Is it the Bible? How do you know the understanding of the Bible correctly? Is it fellowship? How do you know that you’re not speaking to complacency in a brother? Do you hear me, do you hear how dangerous things can be? Decision making is in jeopardy if the mind is not in order! Discernment is not throwing a bible on the table and seeing what pops up. Redundancy can work in reverse, right? The more things you come up with to back-up “complacency,” the more backward thinking makes sense and the result is a loss of a true relationship with God.
Job 29:3 New King James Version
When His lamp shone upon my head,
And when by His light I walked through darkness;
You see, your spouse is a good redundant back-up system, an additional gas tank is great, or vehicle or generator for the house. However, God is the best back-up system, redundant system, beginning system, primary system and everything system. Are you getting this, do you see, are you hearing me?
What is your redundant system against complacency? Are you learning to surround yourself in the Lord’s omnipotent power, blessing, mercy and grace? How do you ensure your ears and eyes are seeing the truth? When you pray, do you prepare yourself and reserve a personal appointment into the throne room of the Most High? God is not an emergency Hail Mary pass, He is the only pass, the all the time pass, the hall pass of life across the board.
1 John 5:11-12 New International version
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Chapter 17 Redundancy, the Safety Net Against Complacency 2024, be sure systems are in place and operational. Amen.
