There is a common child’s toy that teaches shape recognition and eye-hand coordination. We give the young’un a board with various openings cut into it, and we have her match blocks, or “pegs,” to the openings. A square shape goes in the square opening and so on.
This is such a ubiquitous toy that we have a series of derisive put-downs that have arisen from the practice of children repeatedly trying to put the wrong pegs into the wrong openings.
If we say someone is a round peg in a square hole, we mean that person is in a position that is unsuited for his or her talents. If someone cannot fit a square peg into a square hole, he or she is completely unskilled. Then there is the person who has pounded the wrong peg once too often, and we are prepared to write him or her off as not just unskilled, but intentionally stupid beyond measure, with no reasonable hope of redemption.
Let’s look at that last reference in the context of our spirituality. We cannot afford to repeatedly pound the wrong peg, not when the Word gives us clear instructions on the truth of the cross and how to find salvation through Jesus Christ.
Here are three Scriptural illustrations about pounding the wrong peg:
Illustration #1:
Galatians 1:8-9 – “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
The true gospel of Christ is the only peg that goes in the salvation hole. If we pound any other, we have no reasonable hope of redemption in him.
Illustration #2:
1 Corinthians 12:1-3 – “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”
If someone repeatedly pounds the wrong spiritual peg, we can make the judgment that he is not of Christ, for no one in Christ can speak against him and retain a relationship with the Father above.
Illustration #3:
1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
How can we test the prophets? Pound them into the Jesus hole. If they are a Jesus peg, they will fit with the teachings of Jesus. If not, toss them out, for they are false in their teachings.
Our game board is the Word of God. When we open the Bible, we have the holes that the teachings of our prophets, pastors, and Sunday school teachers must fit through. If we cannot make them fit, we aren’t to pound them until they do. If we try, we are pounding the wrong peg. We must find the correct peg, and when we do, it will slip easily through God’s teachings, and it will be a perfect fit.
We must be a square peg in God’s square hole. It is the only way to fit securely into him.
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Originally Published 8-10-14 in Discipleship