The Ballestero Blog

God’s Algebra Test

I went to 26 schools growing up. It is still very evident that my education lacks much in the way of continuity. Daddy was an Evangelist for 25 years and a Pastor for 25 as well.  Quite often he had to stop in his travels and rent a house so us kids could go to school.  I got a late start. I turned 7 in Kindergarten. Somehow I was able to get out of the 12^th grade mid-term at 17.

Arithmetic was a very easy subject for me and I always aced a Basic Math test. In 1958 we moved from Yakima, Washington to southern California. My Yakima Math teacher recommended me for Algebra. I got a late start and missed the basics. I somehow couldn’t wrap my mind around the concept of things like X and Y. I had no problem with numbers. But in my mind, letters had no place in a Math test. I saw that I was in trouble and couldn’t seemingly catch up, so I transferred out of Algebra class into Radio and Electronics Shop.

At about 40 years of age I said to myself, “Algebra is the only thing in life you’ve let beat you. Don’t let it.” So I went to the bookstore and bought an Algebra Textbook and a Workbook. I worked my way through and completed the exercises and tests. I cannot say that I’ve ever used Algebra in everyday life since, and that was 26 years ago.

But I have used it in preaching!

In preaching?

Absolutely!

The Algebra book has helped me preach many times.

What would ‘frost my cake’ sometimes during my 30 years of pastoring was when some dear soul would request that the church pray that they would be able to find the will of God for their life.

Yet these same people would somehow seem to be clueless about the will of God for their lives that was written down in black and white. They enjoyed the attention they received by making their mystical prayer request.

I couldn’t believe that some folks would actually ignore the will of God as written in His Word and yet attempt to seek the ‘unknown’ and the ‘as of yet, unrevealed’ will of God.

That’s when the Algebra lessons came in handy. I preached some Algebra lessons in a sermon or two.

One of the first things a student discovers in Algebra, (to put it in basic terminology) is that to find the ‘unknown,’ we have to use the ‘known.’

In other words, if we are serious about finding the illusive and unknown will of God for our lives, how can we be taken serious if we blatantly ignore the will of God that is written in His word?

Some don’t want to be faithful to church, so they ignore Heb 10:25 and still say they are seeking the will of God.

• Heb. 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Some don’t want to pay tithes, so they ignore Mal 3:10 and still say they are seeking the will of God.

• Mal. 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Some have a problem with holiness, so they ignore Rom 12:1 and still say they are seeking the will of God.

• Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Some won’t submit to their pastor or obey what he preaches, so they ignore Heb 13:17 and still say they are seeking the will of God.

• Heb. 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Some won’t forgive and seem to want to hold grudges, so they ignore Mark 6:14-15 and still say they are seeking the will of God.

• Matt. 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
• Matt. 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I guess you get the picture by now. It’s not really a joke or meant to be taken lightly.

• James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Keep on praying and seeking the will of God in your life. Just don’t ignore the will of God as it is written in His Word.

Maybe, just maybe, if you are obedient and faithful in what you have been taught, then God may show you more. Don’t expect more if your obedience is less.

Oh, by the way… If you really want to know what the will of God is for your life, go ask your pastor. Don’t you TELL him, let him TELL you.

• That’s what all the God fearing Kings did in the Old Testament.
• That’s what you should do too.