When Dean didn’t show for dinner as planned, I knew he had a problem. A
quick call found him frustrated, his truck and he were still at the repair shop
where he had his diesel serviced. In for scheduled maintenance, it went in
running fine, now wouldn’t start. Lots of cranking and soot, but no start. So
I went down to console him, and found the owner and his techs trying to figure
it out. It was after closing, but they were insistent on staying. As they
explained what they had done, I asked if maybe it was a bad filter. Over and
over being told they had never seen a bad new one, they finally relented and
switched it, again, the truck instantly firing up, and Dean joining us for
dinner. They had overlooked a simple premise in repair, go back to when it was
running OK, and then diagnose based on what you had done after to make it not
run. The old it was running fine until I worked on it, professional version.
But also a take on psycho babble, a term called normalcy bias, which means just
because I haven’t seen it means it hasn’t happened or doesn’t exist. I’m sure
the shop owner and his techs will never forget this lesson....but do we?
Born into sin, we needed a way to get back to pre-Adam no sin and a
relationship with God. God being holy, the only way we could be in his presence
was to be found without sin. So God sent Jesus to fulfill his wish that he
fellowship with his man made in his image again. He created forgiveness, the
taking us back to the working fine relationship man had with him before we
sinned. Yet many reject the offer Jesus makes us of reconciliation with his
father in heaven, just because they haven’t been able to see a God that does
exist. They deny that God is a spirit and must be worshipped as such, denying
the power of the holy spirit to change lives, and denying Jesus as the way to do
it. Yet those of us who do believe know that it goes much deeper, deeper than
words can express, while some try to explain a supernatural experience with an
infinite God using finite terms, God has give his spirit who provides the words
we need, when needed. And to the lost the spirit still is calling to them “you
need Jesus.” But do we stop to consider him?
Consider the times Adam and Eve had in the garden, the daily walks with
God. But when faced with an adversary they didn’t know, dismissed the only
warning God gave them, and fell from grace. We are all part of the geneology of
Adam, who has the genes of God in him, from him who created him. Without the
spirit to remind us of our sin, we would still be seeking out adverse and
perverse religions, cults, philosophies, and ways of life detrimental to a
relationship with God. But when we confess our sins, and choose Jesus as our
savior, we get his Lordship also. We are like the men trying to fix Dean’s
diesel, doing the same thing over and over gaining the same results. When the
answer was there all the time.
Now I’m no diesel mechanic, or any type mechanic, but they have taught me
how to diagnose. Do we look at ourselves the same way, examining our walk with
Christ as we are told to? That daily working out of our relationship with him?
Maybe a tip from investigators here makes sense. When they believe they have
the right suspect, they do everything the can to prove him innocent. Satan
works to prove us guilty, only in Christ will we be found innocent, as if our
sin has never occurred. So go back to the basics of Jesus, how we sinned, and
how he is the way. Or we can live like Adam and Eve did, looking back at how it
was, and living knowing the mistake in judgment they made ended the best and
most perfect relationship ever. That same perfect relationship is still
available today because he wants us back, he wants none to perish, he made hell
for the demons and the devil himself, but left the decision up to us who to
serve. Just like he did Adam and Eve. Just another example of man interfering
with the things of God....if you are stumbling now go back to where you were
before. A series of bad decisions can destroy you, one turning to Christ will
rescue you. When you find the sin and realize it was wrong, then your heart
will change. And we don’t have to look very far to see all the lives
changed....
Jesus Christ still changes lives. And won’t make you late for
dinner.....and honestly, I am not that smart. Just experienced.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com