As Simple as That

Maybe it's just me, but I think all human beings have an innate tendency to want to complicate things. We have this strange need to have as many complexities, as many moving parts, as possible. It's to the point we're suspicious of anything truly simple; if you don't believe me, how many times have you ever said to yourself, "It can't be that easy"?

We even try to complicate things as simple as God's will for us. 2 Kings 5 tells the story of Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram -- and a leper. When a slave girl tells him "the prophet who is in Samaria" -- Elisha -- could heal his leprosy, he immediately gets permission from the king and goes to him. Elisha prescribes a simple cure: "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed" (v. 10). Naaman is furious at being told to do such a simple thing, but after his servants call him out on it, saying he would have eagerly done anything great or complex, he obeys Elisha and is fully healed (vv. 11-14).

Sometimes we do this with Jesus. It's hard to accept salvation comes by grace through faith, that all we need to do is repent, confess Christ as Lord, and be baptized. It seems too simple. We would readily go on epic quests, pay exorbitant amounts, or live in seclusion for years -- anything more complicated than hitting our knees and going under. But that's part of the mystery of our salvation. Jesus has already done the hard parts, living sinlessly, bearing the sin of the world to a cross, dying, and rising again three days later. Our job is comparatively easy: believe and be baptized (Mark 16:16).

It's really as simple as that.