The Dark Hall

How many times have you gotten up out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and stubbed your toe? The next thing you feel is intense pain and anger. Probably followed by a torrent, whether internal or external of profane words. It has happened to me numerous times. But more often than that we get up, walk out our bedroom doors, down the hall, and into the bathroom without turning on a light and probably have our eyes closed. This in itself could be a metaphor for how we live. We know that all deeds no matter how righteous are like filthy rags to the Lord. So we walk through life never turning on that light and just making our way through the normal obstacles in our way until that time when we stub our toes. These obstacles that we wander around take away little by little away from what really matters. And that is our connection with God. Our vanity and self love, our compassion for self first, our desire to think of us before others. We do things that draw attention to ourselves in order to be lifted up. Whether it is showing off or telling about our great exploits. We put ourselves up on that pedestal for all to see. Then once we are up there we rarely if at all give credit to the one that has given us the ability and talents to do such things. So how do we counter this trap that is so easily fallen into? First we must recognize what Timothy said in his second letter. “All Scripture is God –breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. We trust in the word of the Lord. We take what it says and apply it to our own lives. It is not the words that come out of our mouths but our actions that show the world our relationship with the Lord. And it is those actions that show whether or not others will see that following God is the only path to salvation. Our actions speak louder than our words ever will. I have had the privilege of God revealing to me just what it means to be in His presence when He uses the Holy Spirit to draw someone to Him. It is amazing how God plans everything. So the next time we are in the mode of self first, ask how can I turn what I am doing into something for the glory of God? Use this train of thought to turn on that light in that dark hallway so that we don’t stub our toes. Our time on this planet is limited. Only the Father knows when it is time to go home. Go out and make believers of nations. And just as Jesus did so should we, not just by our words. But by our actions.