On Monday I dropped my wife’s car of at the mechanic to get the brake pads replaced. I knew it was time because they were sensitive and I could hear the distinct screech of metal on metal when I drove it.
When we picked it up, she left with the car while I took care of the bill.
Within minutes, she pulled back into the parking lot looking white as a ghost. “There’s something wrong with the brakes,” she said. “They’re not normal!” She had almost run an intersection and hit a pedestrian.
The mechanic and I both took it for a short ride, but there was nothing wrong.
After talking it over with her, we came to realize that she had become so accustomed to slowing and stopping with worn out, touchy brakes that grabbed as soon as she hit the pedal, that she thought something was wrong when they operated like they should.
What she had grown used to and considered normal was actually not normal and potentially dangerous if continually ignored.
I remember how it felt the first time I went out of my way to actively go out and do something radical for God. I had been a Christian for a little while, but I had gotten used to knowing that I was saved, but not really living out my faith in real ways. I went to church and Bible studies, read my Bible and prayed, but that’s not the same as actively serving.
I remember thinking that we were crazy for going into downtown Portland at night to find people to minister to. This was definitely not the norm as far as I was concerned, but I knew it was right. It was amazing, and I have never been the same.
I realized that I had grown so accustomed to a comfortable Christian lifestyle, that I didn’t even know that God had saved me for so much more.
We are so used to minding our own business as Christians, that we forget what the church is supposed to look like.
We think the guy who holds pro life signs in front of an abortion clinic is a fanatic, but is our silence on the issue and our once a year vote really more effective?
We think the family that lives within their means and gives generously is out of touch with a materialistic society that is in debt up to their eyeballs, but which has God called us to?
We think the person who refuses to watch a Hollywood production that intentionally distorts God’s word is a legalist and a prude, but how did Jesus handle those who misled others by twisting the Scripture?
We think the Christian who takes his family on the mission field to reach the world for Christ is foolish and irresponsible, but is the American dream consistent with the great commission?
There are some things that the church should be doing but has been asleep on for so long that when someone actually does them, it doesn’t seem normal. But what is ‘normal’ supposed to look like?
I am examining my own life today to see where I need to align myself more with God’s word. I’m challenged by a lot of areas where I have been lazy or indifferent.
I dont want to get so used to doing things wrong or not doing them at all that I am surprised when I see them done right.
Do you desire to please God enough that you would examine your own life, and make the changes that need to be made?