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Warning! Warning! Warning!

I drive a 2000 Lincoln that is sometimes just too smart for its own good. Its little onboard computer gives me messages about air pressure and doors ajar, dings at me when I drive like an old man with my blinker on for too long, and in general, just takes every possible opportunity to annoy me. I am old school. I like blissful ignorance. Most of the time I just ignore the warnings.

Wouldn’t it be nice if life and/or God gave us that kind of warning system? Let’s face it. Some of us just need it in writing. Take this picture for instance. Some signs just cannot be ignored. I was driving down I-81 when I got the polite notice, “low fuel.” Not liking to be nagged, I hit the reset button. Shortly thereafter, it began to buzz insistently. Finally, it began to count down the miles and finally, in fear, I heeded its warning. After all, I did not want to be stranded on the side of the interstate.

Most of us would heed that kind of auto warning, but few of us heed the warning signs in life. Yet, no one wants to be stranded on the side of the road in life because they ignored the warning signs. We just think that like the Energizer Bunny, we can keep going and going and going and never recharge. That is especially true during the month of December when we fill every possible moment with something to do, somewhere to go, and someone to see. It is no wonder when I greet people, the first thing they say is “I am tired” or they sigh and shrug their shoulders.

I am as guilty as the next guy, but allow me to mention a couple of Scriptural reminders that might help us both.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. (Isaiah 30:15)

You may also remember that after Mt. Carmel, Elijah wound up in a cave, cowering in fear of Jezebel. It was one of the most dramatic cases of spiritual burnout recorded in the Bible. God didn’t offer him any explanations or even much advice. He essentially just said sleep and eat. That is good advice for those of us who live life full tilt all the time. The next time your little warning light tells you you are about out of fuel, why not do the smart thing and refuel? Hmmmm….

One Response

  1. The greatest paradox of life– we all want to live on the mountaintop, but we find our closest walk w/ Jesus in the valley. If every month was December our churches would be empty. The warning lights come back on in January. Our provident God is good– all the time!

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