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I had a great plan to take all the turkeys to go visit their grandfather last night and then enjoy some dinner together. It was a well laid out, intentional plan that worked around the school drop offs, feeding schedules, and bedtimes.  We all pile into the minivan with all the paraphernalia that accompanies the young kid and I hit the button to start the van...and nothing. I try it again…nothing.

Ok, not an issue as I have jumper cables and another car that is working.  I roll it up next to the van, connect the cables, and hit the button...nothing.  I let it sit for a while (charging up) and then, success...but the door will not close due to a lack of charge (I assume).

Now I am faced with the reality that a jump is not all that was needed; a battery is likely the culprit and the need. I call two different stores nearby knowing that if I can get this door closed, then I can get to the store and swap the battery out.

Store #1- "Yes, we can replace it for you at no cost and the cheapest option we have is $109.99.”

Store #2- "No, we are not allowed to swap it out for you and the cheapest option we have is $199.99.”

Well, this might be the easiest decision of the day. 

I proceed to store #1, park, go inside, the employee comes out to test the battery, confirms it’s bad, and begins helping me take it out. We get it inside; he grabs the replacement, rings it up, and the employee tells me my total is $214.  My brain starts glitching...and then it hits me-  the stores are next to each other and I had pulled into store #2! At that point, the weight and consequences of my decision set in. :)  

As the employee stared at me, waiting for me to pay, my mind was racing with the possibilities of how to pivot to the cheaper store.  "Ok Paul, you need to cancel the sale, get your battery back, ask for the tools to install it, and beg for a jump in the hopes of making it to the next store or you need to walk to the next store, buy the battery, ask for the tools, then replace it in the other store's parking lot.”

While this likely only took two or three seconds of brain power, I felt like he stared at me for an hour.  Sheepishly, I bought the battery and installed it myself. One small turn landed me in a scenario I did not anticipate, did not want, and had no easy way out of. 

As I gripped at myself for not paying better attention and therefore paying 90% more, the Lord reminded me of how easy it is to make such decisions in my spiritual life. 

  • When I downplay how deceitful our sin nature is — With the blessing of the indwelling Spirit of God, Christians desire to submit to God and enjoy His grace in their lives.  At the same time, our sin nature has not been eradicated and fights every thought, motive, and choice for God (Gal. 5). This is our daily reality and we must live in constant attention to it. The OT gives us example after example of real people who were well meaning followers of God that failed to give proper attention to subtle sneakiness of sin.  Often, it is not the BIG moment of sin that starts a believer down a spiritually unhealthy trajectory; it is the crescendo of small ones.  One exception for our spouse here, one indulgence in habit for us there, another "don't want to disappoint the kids" activity, etc. When we fail to analyze and consider God's Word about our daily lives, the deceitfulness of sin lies ready to pounce in small but significant ways over time. Like me turning into the wrong store lot because they both have similar brand colors, a decision that carries "trajectory forming" consequences happens when we are spiritually lax and inattentive. Paul reminded us that there is no room for such laxness in a time of war in Eph. 6. 
  • When I downplay how essential exposure to truth is — While temptation to sin is often very sneaky, the pull of our sin nature often seems overwhelming, and our adversary, the devil, is incredibly shrewd in his dealings with us, we are people of HOPE!  We have the privilege of having God's Word to demonstrate to us who God is, who we are, and how to live each day in light of the previous two.  What helps keep me from getting "off course" throughout a day, then that becoming multiplied over days/weeks/months/years, is the exposure to what is true as stated in God's Word.  The accounts of others reveal God's work and humanity's response (be it good or bad, right or wrong).  The didactic portions give me theological truths, philosophical understanding, and practical guidance for living as a follower of Jesus in a sin cursed world.  If we are not careful, we grow "enough" in God's Word to become familiar rather than consistently dependent.  Daily Bible reading becomes ritual or unaccomplished entirely.  Intentionally preparing our heart before the times of assembly with the congregation become distant friends from the past.  Making the assembly of Christ's church becomes a scale of "at least we went to..." rather than, "Of course we are not skipping out for...".  Personal and corporate exposure to truth in reading, singing, teaching, preaching, and discipleship is essential in charting trajectory, over time, in this life rather than finding ourselves off track, with only tough or irreversible choices left.
  • When I downplay the aid of others — Adding insult to injury, I called to get advice about another matter with someone familiar with my van only for them to let me know that the previous battery would have still been under warranty...ouch.  If I had taken a bit more time to consider my situation, it could have been much different than sitting in store #2's parking lot wondering what happened.  The Lord graciously reminded me of how often I am prone to make decisions and announcements rather than seek advice and counsel; that type of thinking is spiritually backwards.  While the Lord is gracious in giving each of us personal accountability and autonomy of choice, He designed us to be interdependent upon Him and other followers of Him. Christians in your life, particularly in your church, are to be HIGHLY valued rather than the secondary sources when it comes to wisdom in your life.  When we do not want to discuss a matter with those we worship with week in and week out, that should be one of the starkest indicators to us that we are being unwise at best, incredibly foolish at worst.  Harmful spiritual trajectory can easily never happen when we submit ourselves to the spiritual counsel of our family, pastors, and church family. 

 

How was my Friday night?  Well, I got my van working again, but not in the most advantageous, wise way possible.  Time was lost, more money was spent, and an evening's plans were nuked.

I could blame store #2 for having similar colors and even helping me when they said they couldn't.  I could blame the battery that was under warranty for not being what it should have been.  I could blame my kids for consistently leaving the lights on in the van, thus contributing to the dead battery. All those would be convenient and give me a faux "way out"...but it just isn't reality. 

Wrong turns are certainly recoverable, but they are not without cost. 

Serving together,

Pastor Paul