Back on Track

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1Tim 1:5).

I am SO easily distracted. If there’s a bright light in the room, it’s got my attention. So many times, I’ve devoted myself to prayer and then suddenly something sidetracks me. Lord Jesus, thank You so much for all that You’ve…LOOK! A bird! Here in his letter to Timothy, Paul does his best to have the young pastor get the church in Ephesus refocused on what’s most important. Or in the words of the great philosopher and theologian Matt Foley, “How can we get you…BACK ON TRACK?!?!?” 

This is a REALLY big deal for Tim and the folks of the Ephesian church. There’s a team of hucksters who have hornswoggled believers and distracted them from the mission Jesus has for them. Just in case they’ve forgotten, the apostle reminds Pastor Tim of the original focus. “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (v5). Remember the goal. Love. Paul tells Tim it’s time to get folks…BACK ON TRACK! Let’s shut down sales of spiritual snake oil and get back to our main job of loving God and loving people.

This city of Ephesus and the church in the city have a special place in Paul’s heart. He and his posse first hit town during his third tour of the Mediterranean Rim. Dr. Luke spends an entire chapter going into great detail about how the Gospel of Jesus absolutely turned this seaport on its ever lovin’ head (Acts 19). That’s the kind of crazy stuff that happens when God’s Spirit falls. Local Jewish rabbis kick the apostle out of the synagogue after Ephesian Jews start following Jesus as Messiah. That’s when Paul sets up shop at a local meeting hall and teaches about Christ for the next two years. There’s a bizarre scene where a demon kicks the butt of seven dudes and steals their clothes when try a little amateur exorcising. I’m pretty sure they missed the “don’t try this at home” disclaimer. Eventually tons of people start following Jesus and burning their books of black magic. There’s another citywide riot. They seem to follow the apostle wherever he goes. 

Sometime later, Paul has a tearful meeting with elders from the church outside of town to encourage them to keep on keeping on (Acts 20:17-38). The man from Tarsus keeps in touch with the Ephesians regularly throughout the years. When he hears about the threat of counterfeit gospel headed their way, he writes them a letter from his prison cell in Rome to warn them. You’ll find that note tucked in your New Testament between Galatians and Philippians. After his release from the joint, the apostle drops off his trusted sidekick Timothy to pastor this growing megachurch (1Tim 1:3). Apparently those religious con artists were still able to dupe Jesus’ followers into buying their not-so-good news. While there doesn’t seem to be anybody living in a van down by the river, it’s Tim’s job to get the Ephesians…BACK ON TRACK! It’s time to shut down sales of spiritual snake oil and get believers back to their main job of loving God and loving people.

Paul points Tim back at the original target by reminding him of “the aim of our charge” (v5). “Aim” is the Greek word telos. It describes the goal, the end, termination of a trip or project, or even ultimate fulfillment. This is their original purpose and intent. Let’s face it. Once you get on the road, it’s easy to get off track. There are plenty of distractions. Tourist traps along the interstate trying to suck you in. If you’ve ever made the drive down I-95, you know exactly what I mean. The ticky tacky signs for South of the Border sing their siren song. It just takes one driving diversion to sidetrack you from your schedule and real destination. False teachers have distracted Ephesian believers. Like a GPS on the dashboard, the apostle recalculates the trip. Remember where you’re headed. Remember the aim. 

Their goal is “love” (v5). But he’s not talking about working up a warm fuzzy feeling. This is what the NT describes as agape. Paul’s describing a one-of-a-kind attitude of affection which results in action. It’s a choice to act in a way that is loving and beneficial to another. Agape is all about sacrifice. Agape is all about action. It’s love that does. Love with arms and legs. Love with hands and feet. The apostle paints a spectacular (and convicting!) picture of it in 1 Corinthinans 13. It’s the kind of love Jesus poured out for you and me. He lived the perfect life of obedience to God’s commands when we totally failed. He died the brutal death on a cross that had our names on it. He rose from the graveyard to a glorious new life we don’t deserve. That’s love in action. That’s love that does.

One of Jesus’ enemies try to pull a fast one on the Rabbi/Carpenter. Let’s just be clear on this. You’re fooling yourself if you think you can outfox God. You’ll lose. Every. Single. Time. Anyhoo, this dude asked Christ what he thought was an unanswerable questions. You know the ones. Can God build a wall so high that even He can’t step over it? This goober thought he had the drop on Jesus and asked Him which commandment in the OT is the most important. Our Savior never batted an eye. Love God and love people. When we do that, we’re obeying everything God commanded at the same time (Mt 22:37). The night before His murder, Jesus washed His disciples filthy, stinking feet. When He was done, He told them this is EXACTLY the kind of love in action His followers are to express. “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (Jn 13:34-35). Jesus’ best buddy John was sitting right there that night. Later he will write, “We love because He first loved us” (1Jn 4:19). Love is the purpose. Love is the goal. Love is the end game.

Paul then tells Tim about the Triple Crown source of this love. It comes “from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (v5). A clean heart. A clear conscience. A legit trust in Jesus. See something that each of the Big 3 has in common?  Purity. They’re all legit. They’re all squeaky clean. Nothing fake. Nothing counterfeit. That’s in huge contrast to the bogus gospel the false teachers have been spreading. Let’s take a quick look at this Trifecta of Love.

Let’s start with a “pure heart” (v5). King David wrote a hit song about how God loves to bless “those who are pure in heart” (Ps 73:1). In the most famous section of His most famous sermon, Jesus says His Father will shower His blessings on the “pure in heart” and allow them to see God (Mt 5:8). In his second letter to Timothy, Paul tells his protege join other worshipers “who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2Tim 2:22). For the record, Jesus is the ONLY One to have a 100% sin-free clean heart. fThat’s in contrast to the absolutely a jacked up joint inside me. “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:9). Yeah, that’s not good. Not good at all! 

The only hope for my rotten heart is receiving treatment from the Great Physician. David knows the only One who can fix is his filthy heart is Yahweh. “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Ps 51:10). Only God has the surgical skills to pull off a supernatural heart transplant. “And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezek 36:26). Only Jesus when gets involved in my life can I even dream of producing real love for God and others. If you’re wondering, folks with rock hearts don’t have a thimbleful of compassion for anyone other than themselves.

Next up is a “good conscience” (v5). The conscience (Gr. suneidesis) the part of the soul God gives to every person allowing us to distinguish between good and evil. That innate sense of right and wrong. The writer of Hebrews asks his readers to pray for he and his friends “that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things” (Heb 13:18). Paul’s friend and personal pastor Peter says that “having a good conscience” is key when it comes to telling others about our faith in Jesus (1Pet 3:15-16). 

When we have a strong inner sense of moral law, that’s a clear indication there’s a Moral Law Giver. Otherwise, who makes the call on whether doing bad things to puppies and kittens is a bad thing? Who decides whether Hitler’s so-called Final Solution is the wrong answer? Who’s to judge Syria’s president for killing his own people with chemical weapons? Is it you? Is it me? Is that up to the talking heads on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC? It’s the ultimate Source of our conscience. If you haven’t figure out Who that is at this point, it’s God, the Righteous Judge. Can’t think of anyone else who’s more qualified, can you?

A key component in loving others is “sincere faith” (v5). Paul’s describing a trust in Jesus that’s the real deal. It’s not a put on. It’s not just for show. It’s not just showing up at church in order to pull the wool over the eyes of others. This is a bona fide belief in who Jesus is and what He’s done. It’s trusting in what He’s done that I could never dream of doing for myself. That kind of faith runs in Tim’s family. Paul will later write about how it all started with me-maw. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2Tim 1:5). While it’s awesome when faith runs deep in your family, we need to remember that God doesn’t have any grandchildren. Your faith needs to YOUR faith. And it needs to be legit. It needs to be sincere. 

Now it’s time for a little Gospel math. “Pure heart” + “good conscience” + “sincere faith” = sacrificial and selfless “love.” In other words, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They don’t just add up, they multiply! When you put each of them together, God does something incredible, something supernatural. He pours His love through us and transforms us into fire hydrants of His grace. That’s what happens we get focused back on the main purpose. Once Tim shuts down the sales of spiritual snake oil, the Ephesian believers can get back to what Jesus calls us to do…loving God and loving people.

What’s hijacked you from the main mission? What has weaseled it’s way into your heart and polluted your desires? How about your conscience? Is there something that’s got the warning lights flashing down at quality control? Do you have something you need to get off your chest and confess? And what about your faith? Is it the real deal? Or is it phony? Are just trying to fool folks into thinking you’ve got your stuff in one bag with a twist tie? Don’t freak out. Forget Matt Foley. Jesus is ready and waiting to get you…BACK ON TRACK!