Necessary Maintenance

This morning I woke up and had to drive my car to the dealership to have some maintenance performed. The frustrating part is that the dealership is in the opposite direction of the church office. I don’t like having to fight the traffic to get there, then waiting in line to get the paperwork done so my car can be serviced. In fact, the easy thing to do would just be put off getting the car serviced!

The interesting part is that my car is showing no signs of needing any service; it’s just recommended that it be done. It looks the same, drives the same, and I still really like my car. So why take the time to get something done when it appears by looking and listening to the car that it doesn’t need anything done?

Each day I set time in my schedule to get alone with the Lord for study and prayer. There are days when it’s really tough because I have so many other things I need to get done and that alone time with the Lord just causes me to delay the “must do’s.” I’m not feeling any less spiritual or finding myself battling some temptation where I need God to intervene. My life is at a state where I feel like things are progressing perfectly to fulfill God’s purpose. In fact, if you ask most people, they would say that I’m a great Christian and there are no major issues that I need to have worked on in my life.

The reality is this: Yes, my car does appear to be perfectly normal, but every day that I drive it I am putting wear and tear on it. The engine is slowly breaking down the fluids inside of it every time I drive. The tires wear out just a little more when I am out on the road. The weather works on removing the finish that protects the paint on my car. All of these little things happen so slowly that you don’t even notice them happening. Yet, if fluids were not changed, tires not replaced, or even new finishes put on the car’s surface, the car would begin to show signs of wearing out. I’ve seen cars that should last for years ruined because of the lack of maintenance.

My spiritual journey needs daily maintenance. If I don’t find the time to renew myself and refocus, I begin to change. It may not easily be noticed, but soon things begin to irritate me that shouldn’t. I don’t worship the way I should but instead stand by as a spectator. Teaching and preaching simply become times to talk rather than compelling me to pursue more of Christ. Relationships are hindered because my love is not the love of Christ radiating from my life. So, just as my car needs to be maintained, I encourage you to maintain your spiritual life. I’ve always loved the verse found in Isaiah 40:30-33, “Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”