by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 19, 2021
“Choose your rut carefully, you’ll be in it for the next
20 miles.” It is an old and wise saying you may have heard, but likely haven’t
seen printed on an actual road sign, even though it probably should be.
On the
surface, it is a cautionary message to drivers on rarely maintained dirt roads.
But the intended message is much deeper, and one that we can all learn from. It
is a metaphor for life. We all make choices for our lifestyles that can turn into
lifelong ruts that define us. These are routines we get into that become habit.
The days can turn into years of doing the same thing. This is good if you’re
moving in a positive direction. But if not, you are definitely not living your
best life in Christ.
The
apostle Paul said becoming a living sacrifice to God will lead to better days
ahead.
“2 Don’t change
yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside
with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what
God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him
and what is perfect” (Romans 12:2).
It all
starts with what you spend your time thinking about. That’s why Paul said, “If
anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things”
(Philippians 4:8-9).
We can
all make changes for the better if we allow God to work in us. Maybe that is what
Paul was talking about when he told Christians in Thessalonica “Do not
quench the Spirit.” The fruit of the Spirit are those wonderful qualities
of God such as love and joy and peace and self-control that we are supposed to
keep in step with (Galatians 5:25).
Paul
knew that people could change. Some of the Corinthians he addressed were still
choosing to live in sin while calling themselves Christians. Others changed
when they became Christians. Paul listed sexual sin, idol worship, greed,
drunkenness, and sins of the mouth as among those offenses that will prevent
people from going to heaven. “And
that is what some of you were” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
So,
once again, Paul affirms that our bad choices of the past do not dictate that
we continue down that road.
The
other day I saw a meme that Lisa Walkingstick re-posted on Facebook that really
made me think. It said, “Life humbles you as you age. You realize how much time
you’ve wasted on nonsense.”
God
bless us all as we choose a life that makes sense spiritually according to His
will. In the end, that’s really all that counts. Have a great week!