Watch your step in the junk yard!

     Junk yards used to be in abundance years ago.  I’m not sure why they are scarce now, but I often used to find myself there either for myself or my job looking for parts. 

     Anyway, I had a dream or a vision, I can’t remember which, years ago, that I was in a junk yard.  Walking through a junk yard one has to be very careful with each step.  Not only with the terrain with water puddles and tire ruts but also the metal from the cars and car parts all over the place.

     That is how I pictured living in this world.  If you’re not careful it is very easy to get hurt.  You have to plan you’re every step. 

Proverbs 1:32-33 ESV

32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.

     In a junk yard you guide yourself through with your eyes.  Every step calculated based on what you see.  In life, how do you guide yourself? 

     There is a little caveat here though.  In the Christian life your aim is not to preserve your life or to make your life as easy as you can, but to do the will of the Father.  It’s also not your aim to make the life of others easy.  However, your life is to be a life of service to others.  A life of death to oneself.

     So the things that we are trying to avoid (ruts and rust) are going to be those things that preserve and protect self.  Paradoxically it is just the opposite of what one inherently does.

     Another caveat is the fact that as we avoid the ruts and rust of this world, this causes us to live in safety.  Meaning the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches don’t entangle us and cause us to fall. 

     Do you see what I mean.  Look at that scripture above.  To be simple is to go along your merry way doing what pleases you and quite frankly doing what comes naturally.  Self-preservation. 

Looking out for number one.  If it feels good, do it.  But look at that word complacency.  Websters defines it this way “self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.”  I

     It’s like the parable of the rich fool who built barns and bigger barns to hold all of his crops.  Now I can rest for all of my days.  Now I can take it easy.  Eat, drink, and be merry.  But the scripture says, you fool, this night your soul will be required of you.  Now who will own what you have accumulated.  This is how it is for those who store up treasure here on earth but have no treasure in heaven. 

     Don’t be complacent.  Be careful where you step.  Avoid the rut and rust of the love of self.  Lay up for yourself, treasures in heaven.  Visit the lonely.  Give comfort to those grieving.  Encourage the depressed.  Give spiritual food to those who hunger for it.  Clothe those with the white garment of salvation.  Give to those who it is in your power to give. 

     In everything give thanks.  In good times and bad.  In feast and famine.  In health and in sickness.   On the mountain and in the valley.  Keep the faith.  Trust in him.   If you do these thing, it will keep yourself from harm (spiritual) and you will lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. 

     And you will find your name written in the Lambs Book of Life.