On a cool morning last Fall, I had an amusing spiritual illustration cross my path as I was walking to work. I believe that since God made my funny bone, He has no problem finding ways to tweak it, just like we know what makes our own children brighten up and even go on giggle rampages. Never underestimate the power and importance of a laughing, well-loved child. It should be encouraged.
I was listening to a bible study of one of my favorite Bible teachers that morning as I walked. I love to walk, it is addicting to me and I love the sense of moving under my own power and pace in this drive-everywhere-no-matter-how-close world. Just think, if evolution were true, if we completely quit walking to our destinations, ultimately wouldn’t we evolve with no legs? Ok, I’ll get back to the subject! Walking gives me time to think up such frivolous scenarios, so I sort my mental hard drive as I go.
On this particular day, I was anxious to listen to a great Bible study, and it was also garbage day in my neighborhood, and those trucks have their own rhythm. And when that truck is doing its stop-and-go squawky thing, it’s quite loud, and there is no ignoring it if it is following the same course as I am. And I can’t hear my study when the garbage truck comes calling. Isn’t that just like the Christian life? All the garbage of this world that comes into our visual and audio fields every day is just so much loud distraction that sometimes there is no ignoring if it is going the same direction that we are. I can’t hear the Lord’s instruction when all the garbage is trying to fill my ears and distract me, and I don’t want to miss hearing His direction as it is the single most precious thing to me in life. Garbage comes into life, garbage goes out. But it doesn’t have to claim your soul and take it along for the ride.
Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1John 2:15