Brass Tacks

Mike Schneider writes: There was once a man who owned a general store. In this store was a wooden counter over which all merchandise passed. Nailed to the top of that counter were two brass tacks, supposedly 36 inches apart, which were used for years to measure everything sold by the yard. The man was a good, honest, and respectable citizen. He operated his business as uprightly as he knew how.

When the man died, his son took over the business, carrying on the honest traditions of his father. One day a salesman came into the store and pitched a yardstick onto the counter. When the yardstick slid across the surface and bumped into both of the tacks, that young man suddenly faced the greatest decision of his life. Though he was by no means looking for fault in his father, the reality gripped him that his father’s standard of measure had been one inch short for over 30 years! The knowledge of this truth now laid a heavy responsibility on the son.

If he corrected the error, moving one of the brass tacks to the proper distance, a mark would be left on the counter for all to see. By doing the honest thing, the young man stood in jeopardy of tarnishing his father’s honest reputation. But if he left the tacks as they were, he would be guilty of doing something his father never did – deliberately selling people short. You see, his father never knew he was in error, but the young man did! *

What do you think? Should the son move the tacks?

Many people find themselves in a similar circumstance when they consider obeying the Gospel. The Bible teaches that in order to have our sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and to receive the gift of eternal life, we must place our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

Schneider points out that “By conceding that baptism is indeed a necessary step toward salvation, or by conceding some other doctrinal point, [some] feel that they may be condemning their parents who were in error on these issues. But, by trying to justify their departed parents, these people become guilty of a sin their parents would never have committed – intentionally refusing to obey the commands of the Lord! This is a case where two wrongs certainly do not make a right!”

“It is not ours to pass judgment upon those who have finished their course. It does not change present circumstances to believe they served the Lord to the best of their ability, even as we hope to do. As Paul said, ‘Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls’ (Romans 14:4). The eternal abode of our departed friends is beyond our control – they are in the hands of a faithful judge. But our lives are yet to be lived and our decisions are yet to be made on the basis of our knowledge, not theirs.”

Schneider concludes: “I hope the young man moved the tack – I think his father would be pleased!”

The Heavenly Father will also be pleased if WE place our trust in Him and act upon His instructions as to how to have our sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and to live for Him.

Won’t YOU?

David A. Sargent