First tier support

I was thinking about some parallels between a successful Christian life and a successful implementation of our company’s software today. Before you summarily dismiss this notion and tell me to check into the nearest insane asylum, let me explain. We have very satisfied customers who swear by our company and its products and in fact probably wear Horizon underwear. And sadly we have a small number of dissatisfied customers that use the same identical products and services provided by our company and yet seem to think that our company is the worst thing to come along since detecting methane while being stuck in the back of a crowded elevator heading towards the first floor from the top floor of an eighty story building.

They both use the exact same software, they both have access to the exact same training programs and utilize the exact same support resources, but one fails miserably and the other succeeds mightily. What is the difference?

Most of the time the difference can be boiled down to the implementation process being conducted differently. Our software system must be initially setup and properly configured or it cannot ever function correctly. Establishing a firm foundation is absolutely essential to success. Second we have found that solid training must be conducted on an ongoing basis in order for the system to be utilized in the manner it was designed. If someone is not trained properly they will have problem after problem as the system will not run itself. Finally a support and monitoring mechanism must be put in place in order to properly maintain it and keep it functioning properly on a perpetual basis. Software can be affected by many things like lightening, power surges, virus attacks and other nasty critters and occasionally support assistance from the folks who designed the system is necessary.

Christians are similar in that we must initially get setup properly in our faith or we cannot ever function correctly. We must found our faith in Jesus Christ and His Holy Scripture, (the Bible), and not in a religion, denomination, sect, creed, preacher, Pope, Hindu wise man, parent’s opinions, friend’s opinions, self conjecture, Koran, Book of Mormon, Jim Jones, David Koresh, the Virgin Mary, Buddha, Tibetan monk, et al. Jesus is the “Rock” mentioned in the Bible. He is the “way, the truth, and the life”. Our faith must begin and end with Him and we must use Him and His word the Bible as our foundation. We must understand this concept and establish our faith in it, as we cannot otherwise succeed. It is absolutely essential to success to understand this axiom.

Training is the next vitally important component of successful Christian living, and we should have personal daily Bible study combined with Bible study classes conducted by those who have extensively studied the Bible in depth. This training is vital to our Christian growth and developing a full understanding of what our Father requires of us in order to lead a happy productive Christian life filled with joy and peace.

Finally we too need a support mechanism to assist us in times of trouble. Belonging to a Bible based church of caring Christians, personally knowing a caring pastor who can help mentor you through various crises, and fellowship with other Christian friends and believers are ideal in partially fulfilling this need. Most importantly however is a solid prayer life and continuous communication with Jesus Christ. What better support could one ask for than going to God who designed and created us and all of creation? He is our first line support mechanism and the call is even toll free

As with a software system, get setup properly, obtain solid training, and utilize God’s support mechanism and you will be mightily successful forever.

Have a blessed and happy day today

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way,
the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through
Me.