Oh, you wanted fries with that? - Joey Ferrell
If you went to a fast food restaurant and ordered a combo that was described as a sandwich or protein (ha funny at fast food) and a side dish like fries, when you get to the window and your bag feels a little light and you know it is short of what you ordered, what do you do?
1. Do you ask the worker why you have no fries?
2. Do you go back around and check the menu to make sure that is what you saw?
3. Do you look at your receipt to see if what you asked and paid for was short of what you received?
4. Do you just pay for it and have the opinion that it’s good enough to have part of what was asked for?
5. Do you just drive off angry and upset at the person who short-changed you?
I had something like this happen a few weeks ago. Except it wasn’t the fries, it was my wife’s burger - her main dish for dinner. We had left an amusement park. It was late. Most places were closed and the ones that weren’t had long lines. So, once we ordered a large order for our daughter and grandkids, after having to repeat several times what we required for our dinner, it was so very frustrating to have the very first drinks handed to us that were not what was ordered.
The drinks weren’t an issue because actually we had drinks from the park but it didn’t make sense to pay more for individual items than was required when the complete meal was what had the ultimate goal of being fed. So, we had drinks. Some were wrong sizes but we had them.
Then the bags started being handed over. As I look in the mirror and at the line that had formed, as hungry as we were I just wanted to get the food and go! I was ready. It was time to head toward home. It was late. I was hungry!
So, as we round the curve of the drive thru line, it is noticed that we were short the $7 burger she had ordered. Our order was not complete. I became angry as the lobby was closed and I would have had to get back in the line behind several cars to try to get it right the second time.
But, I didn’t. I drove off. I offered her my meal. She said no it’s okay. I felt bad as I tried to manage to eat some of mine as we drove away.
I was thinking: why couldn’t they get a simple order right? Did they not hear what I said? Oh wait, it was on the screen and I actually confirmed what was said by what was written. I said yes it’s ok. They said ok we hear what you have ordered. Yet, we were short.
Now, I could go on and tell you about the silence for the next few miles as my wife had said “you should have checked it before you drove off.” But I won’t! Husbands I’m sure you know how I felt!!! Instead, about 5 miles down the road, I stopped at a different restaurant, waited in line, ordered a burger, verified the order, paid, accepted the bag at the window and guess what…checked the contents against what had been stated as the order at the menu board and the window. The order was right and now she had her meal to eat.
Now, you’ve probably already answered some of those questions above in your own way, but let’s put some logic into application.
On the day of judgment, it will be too late to think about what was wrong with the “order”. There will be no guessing at who was wrong. When we compare what we receive to what was stated, will we fall short because of what was heard, what was processed, what was done as we drove off with less than completeness? You may be asking what I am referring to.
It’s kind of simple really. When I ordered that meal, it was supposed to have a burger and a side. Typically the side is left off in this situation, but not here, the main part of the meal was missing…and the side would not suffice to fill the fullness of the need. When my Lord said in Mark 16:16, that whoever believes AND is baptized will be saved, He did not go on to say “but if you leave off one of these you can still be saved.” No, instead, He gave a brash warning. He said, he who believes NOT will be condemned, implying that the item left off is not complete without both being present. Now put that into application here.
In my own words of analogy:
He who orders and eats a burger and fries will be full. He who receives just burger will not receive the fullness of the order. He who receives just fries will still be hungry.
Yet, there are many people who will say “you just have to eat the burger to be full”, but that does not remedy the fact that the one who ordered the burger and fries, paid for them, expected them, and was left short of what they ordered will be pleased. And certainly, the one who just gets fries and no burger…well, they are left much less fed than the other. But both are still short.
So, is salvation based on belief? Certainly. How about repentance. Of course. Confession? Absolutely. But, without the rest of the “order” being produced, the “meal” is incomplete and disobedience is evident…even if it was just an oversight of what was said.
I could have gotten back in line. Matter of fact, the restaurant didn’t close until 2 a.m. so my excuse of not wanting to wait in line to fulfill the order lies upon me really and not the restaurant. But, just as the second restaurant had on its sign “open until midnight,” at some point, the store would have been closed and my wife would not have been able to eat that night.
What about the “order” that Jesus himself “placed” in His words to us? He said you have to believe - John 8:24. He also said you have to repent - Luke 13:3. He said you have to confess - Matthew 10:32-33. And He said that His “order” includes being immersed for remission of sin - Mark 16:15-16.
Friends, don’t wait until the restaurant is closed to realize you did not get part of the order. Do not get angry with the workers that may come up short, but rather tell them that there should be more based on the “written order”. Don’t come up hungry at the end of the day by doing part of these things, yet never fulfilling the hunger that is of your soul. Salvation is the most important thing to get right in this life. Burgers and fries are tasty, but in the end, let’s find the bread and water that Jesus has offered to deliver once we have completed His order.