Gauge of Righteousness

The following article is from the desk of Hardie Logan, one of the men of the Madisonville church of Christ.

In most cars and trucks that are not electric, there is a fuel gauge. Some people think it is one of the most, if not the most, important gauge in the vehicle. Drivers of the vehicle use it all the time to tell how much fuel they have and how far they can go. Even in electric vehicles, there is a gauge to tell how much charge you have in the vehicle. We know some things cause the fuel gauge to drop faster, like hot rodding or driving 90 miles an hour. Gauges can be very important.

What if God gave every Christian a “Righteous gauge” (R gauge) when they were baptized. After one is baptized their “R gauge” would read “full”. Basically, that is the point in which the gauge should be the “fullest” simply because Jesus’ blood has removed all sin and the Holy Spirit has made His presence in the temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). So, now your “R gauge” is full.

But then, the next day, you get back into the world. You meet some old friends; they tell some vulgar jokes and you laugh at the jokes with your friends. Does your “R gauge” drop from full? What would cause your “R gauge” to start going down? Do some things cause it to drop faster than others?

Then you miss worshipping with the saints. How many times can you miss before your “R gauge” starts to drop? One, two, ten? Is missing worship a greater drain on your “R gauge” than laughing at vulgar jokes? What about discouraging a brother? Or maybe watching pornographic movies or not partaking of communion or not giving as one has prospered?

Then there is the question of how low are you willing to let your “R gauge” go? Is it acceptable to God if you run on “half a tank” or “one fourth of a tank”? Or maybe just enough to get by? How full do you think God wants your “R gauge” to be when Jesus comes back?

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

The real issue in all this is God didn’t give us a gauge. We are ones that act like we have a “R gauge” by the way we live. Some laugh at vulgar jokes, some don’t attend church services, and some watch pornographic movies. But God does tell us no matter what, we should seek after righteousness. Paul told Timothy to pursue righteousness, but Paul did not tell Timothy when to stop (1 Timothy 6:11). Do you think Paul meant for Timothy to pursue righteousness all the time? Every day?

The only real example we have is Jesus. Jesus sought to be righteous every minute of every day. Whatever God wanted Jesus to do, Jesus did it. No questions asked. And Jesus was found righteous in God’s eyes. Is Jesus your example?

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).