“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 (KJV)
We recently took delivery of our new washing machine and I just could not wait to get it going. Our old washing machine had given up, so we required a new one in the shortest time possible. So, we went for a bigger and better replacement that would best meet the needs of our growing family. I had installed the previous one that served us well for many years and didn’t anticipate having any trouble installing this new one. I quickly raced through the manual, muttering that I needn’t have bothered, as I felt nothing would have changed since I installed the last one, and got the machine running so that we could start tackling the mound of washing that had since piled up.
My wife joyfully loaded the machine and started the washing cycle. All seemed well until it got to the spinning cycle, and all hell broke loose. The machine started shaking violently, dancing and shifting about and hitting fixtures in the laundry room. The noise was terrible and the situation looked increasingly dangerous. I even tried to weigh the machine down by sitting on top of it, but to no avail. I scratched my head to see what could have gone wrong, but couldn’t lay my finger on the fault. So, we called the help line to seek assistance and it was then that I realised my mistake. I had assumed that the new machine was just like the old one, having failed to notice a crucial difference. For safety of transport, new machines have their drums bolted to the main body of the machine. These bolts must first be removed before use or there is a risk of damaging the machine. This was what I (the now chastened know-it-all technician) failed to do and nearly damaged our new expensive washing machine. Thankfully, once I took the bolts out, the problems disappeared, leaving us to enjoy the peace of mind that a quiet perfectly functioning washing machine gives to those who carefully read and follow the instructions in the operating manual.
So, what lesson did I learn from this episode? It is that operating manuals are included in the packaging of an appliance for a good purpose – to ensure that it works properly and to the maximal effect. I also learnt that the person best placed to write the manual and correct faults is the designer and manufacturer of the appliance. The spiritual equivalent of these mechanical lessons is that a life created by God can only fulfil its potential and is best lived according to the instructions contained in the operating manual of life that God has compiled and given to us. This of course is the Bible.
Secreted within its covers are solutions to any of life’s myriad of problems that can ever arise. The good news is that heeding the bible’s dictates even helps us to avoid needless sufferings as well as proffers solution to intractable problems, Ps 119:105. The challenge for many Christians is to take time to read the bible on a regular basis and get to know it so well that they can imbibe its guiding Spirit and develop the kind of mindset that enabled our Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish His mission on earth. So, if you wish to avoid the torrid real life equivalent of my dancing washing machine drama with all the attendant aches and pains, then be advised to set quality time apart, however little, to acquaint yourself with God through His word. Your reward for time invested will be to see your life finally turn out just as God’s word had predicted.
Prayer:
Lord, your word is light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet. Give me a hearing ear and a willing heart so that I can have the mind of Christ and live to glorify your name |
