Is YOUR Check Engine Light On?

For anybody that’s driven a car, we all know that there are certain symbols on our dash that light up if something is wrong.  There's a symbol of a thermometer indicating that your engine is running too hot, a symbol of a circle with the letter ABS in the center indicting that the anti-lock brake system is engaged or has a problem, and the ever dreaded engine symbol of a small engine indicating that there is something wrong with the engine or an engine related component.

 

Depending on the type of person that you are, you will either get the problem diagnosed and corrected, or, if you can’t really tell that there is an issue, will continue driving the vehicle.  Nowadays, most modern cars have a socket where you can plug in a code reader to determine what the issue is and how you can remedy it. 

 

Unfortunately, these code readers also have an option to erase the code, giving you a false sense of security until the condition triggers the code to alert you of the problem again.  Now the problem may be minor and only affecting your gas mileage and nothing else, or it could be an indicator of a much more serious issue in the works.  Sometimes we will keep driving even if other signs that there is a significant problem emerge, but we ignore them because we don’t have the time and/or money to deal with them right now and will get to it later. 

 

Inevitably, later comes too late after having your car break down in heavy traffic on your way to or from work or other important appointment, having to spend money to get it towed to a mechanic with the diagnosis (and the cost) being significantly higher than it would have been had you addressed the problem when the Check Engine light went on.  At this point you're angry, frustrated and disillusioned so much that you begin to contemplate if the car is even worth putting any more money into it.

 

How often has something happened in our lives, whether it’s the loss of a friend or loved one, rejection, disappointment, or something that causes us to not operate the way God meant us to?  Of those times, how often have we pressed on through the check engine light without stopping to take the problem to God for wisdom and guidance...the tune up we need to carry on? 

 

In our fast paced world, we tend to suppress a lot of those issues and feelings because society says, suck it up and press on.  Quit being weak!  So we do and we are still functioning, but not at 100 percent and we start to suffer - whether it be that we are always stressed, depressed, lethargic, lacking motivation or enthusiasm, it affects us and who we are.  Over time the problem consumes you and you lose confidence in yourself and others, lose all motivation and enthusiasm, and become distant to your friends, coworkers and loved ones.  Worst off, you’ve been putting off stopping for a visit with God so long, you're afraid of what he'll say or do because you’ve neglected maintaining what he's given you.

 

Finally you hit a wall and it takes you out-physically and/or emotionally.  You’re so far gone in your emotions and/or relationships that you begin to contemplate if its worth trying to repair that now terribly damaged relationship or situation and whether its worth to even do anything more with that car?  In some cases, the car is not the relationship, but the person and can end up with suicidal tendencies.

 

God loved us enough to have His only begotten son die for us, long before we were ever conceived in anybody’s mind, so that we may be free and free in Him.  God wants us to stop in, not just for daily maintenance, but for conversation.  He’s like a shady tree mechanic but with the highest certifications available.  He wants to walk you through what’s wrong and what he recommends you do to fix it, but also enjoy your company.  Some of my friends know that I have an affinity for doing minor repairs on automobiles, and they’ll ask for help from time to time.  I don’t charge them, all I ask is that they come buy early and bring the parts they need for me to do the repair.  The conversation is mostly around the problem itself, but we also talk about our lives and share what’s going on within them.  Sometimes we pray for each other or offer Godly wisdom from similar situations in the others life.  Its more than just about the physical repair, it’s about the person.

 

 

The “Broken” Church

My son, who is four years old, has an affinity at trying to figure out how things work.  That said, I come home many a night to have to reassemble things he’s taken apart.  He does come about it honestly, though, as I too had the same inquisitive nature when I was growing up.  Recently I’ve started getting him into proper LEGOs (graduating from Mega Blocks and Duplo).  He exhibits more imaginative play with these and has started “modifying” the cars and trucks that I build for him.  Even more recently, I’ve started having him build the vehicles following the instructions.  Given that the other thing he really likes to do is make puzzles, this seemed to be a good fit.  I have noticed that when I present the pieces before him, he always says, “Oh no! Dad, it’s broken, it’s broken…”  Any adult would say that it’s not broken, rather that it just needs to be put together.  All it takes is matching the right pieces together such that they form a car/truck/building that looks like the picture the instruction manual portrays.

First, let me define the Church as followers of Jesus Christ, not a certain denomination or congregation.  The world sees today’s Church as being broken.  It’s too divided in its views, doctrine and what they truly believe in.  When you see people leaving churches because of differing views/opinions/perceptions as to how a congregation worships, the style of a pastor’s delivery of a sermon, even because they disagree with the way the church leadership dresses!  It’s sad to see this division, but it’s there and it’s happening. 

I do not think that the Church is broken (but if we continue on our current track it will be).  I think of it as my son’s LEGO toys – waiting to be put together.  The Church comprises the pieces, the Bible is our instruction manual, and God is the Creator trying to assemble the pieces.  Like my son, god is having a hard time putting the pieces together to make up the finished work, the bride of Christ.  The difference is that, unlike my son who lacks the intricate aptitude to connect the pieces on the pages of the manual (you know, the ones that hide behind other pieces), God is fighting to connect the pieces together because they are resisting to be one body, one being, to come together under one banner – His son.

There are those that speak against the Church, calling it organized religion that is ineffective and routine at best.  These people may think that they are helping to unify the pieces, but what they are actually doing is further dividing the Church and demonstrating to the world that we are NOT together in one accord, are weak and easy to break. 

We need to come together as one, as the enemy is and continues to do so. Let us be the complete bride of Christ, one body, one mind, one spirit.

When I finish helping my son reassemble his LEGOs, he exclaims, “It’s fixed!  It’s fixed! Thank you dad, you’re welcome dad.”  Let us be thankful to our Father, but also do our part to let his kingdom come.  The only thing that stands between God and His plan for our lives and the Church is us.