Disclaimer: the tools in this illustration are not bad of
themselves. In fact, they’re quite useful when my husband needs to grab his
most useful assortment to repair bikes. But I snapped a photo of them as a
reminder of a well-used speaker’s illustration of spiritual problems. The story is called “The Devil’s
Toolbox.” It describes an imagined yard
sale in which the Devil had put out for sale the various tools he used against
humans. They were labeled “hatred,” “envy,” “jealousy,” “pride” and so on. Off to one side was a very worn tool with an
extravagant price. When customers asked about it, curious why it cost so much
when it was obviously in poor shape, he replied, “That’s ‘discouragement.’ It’s
worn because it’s my most useful tool. It helps me pry open human hearts when
the others can’t.”
Those tools of the tempter came to mind as I read the
counsel of psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud about working through emotional pain in
the journey toward Christian character. Facing negative things in our lives is
hard, he wrote in Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality
(Harper, 2006, pp. 198-199). But, to borrow a cliché to emotional healthiness,
“No pain, no gain.” He added: "Even the best things in life that are free, as we
say, such as love, have big price tags in order to possess. Self-denial,
sacrifice, giving, delay of gratification, repentance, forgiveness, swallowing
pride and ego, are all among the price tags of making love work. But, in the
end, it is always worth it.”
Fixing things that are “not good” in our lives—like a
marriage or relationship, addiction, depression, failure, or even a physical
injury—happens every day to people who prize character above comfort. “There is
no easy street and no shortcut,” he added. “In the end, the short-cut is always
the longest route, and people of character know this and it has become a part
of their makeup” (p. 199).
He goes on to point out that teaching children about delayed
gratification and keeping short accounts are part of the training that goes
into positive adult character. That made
me think of the “discouragement” tool. Its blows are felt the hardest by people
who haven’t been brought up to learn resilience and forgiving grace, the very
character qualities modeled by Jesus. And again, James 1 came to mind: that
when trials come, we can consider them a burden or an opportunity to grow in
godly perseverance. In other words, saying a firm “NO!” to the threatened blows
of the Enemy’s “discouragement” tool.
It’s not always easy, but it’s God’s best way.
One by one they were announced this past weekend--the
restrictions on places where people congregated and were apt to share the
deadly Corona virus: churches, schools, senior centers, sports and cultural
events! I understand, but it is still hard to get my mind around this sudden
change in daily life. I went (gloved but
not masked) to my favorite discount grocery store the other day. As I expected,
many shelves were bare of basics, thanks to hoarders. As I meandered over to
the bakery goods (just restocked), I commented to an employee, “This is scary,
all this panic buying.” He replied, “It shouldn’t scare people. We’ll still
get our food deliveries on Monday and Wednesday.”
But I “get it” about avoiding invisible contact with a powerful
virus that has already taken lives. I’m avoiding going out. Washing my hands
lots more. Sanitizing surfaces. Trying to be aware of when I touch my face. Gargling
with salt water. And trusting God.
PESTILENCE AND PLAGUE
The scripture that came to mind as soon as we realized the
virus wasn’t just a Chinese disaster was Psalm 91.
We have to be careful about applying scripture haphazardly to news
events, but I couldn’t get these verses out of my mind:
You will not fear the
terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that
stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (Psalm 91:5-6)
Fear is a big thing right now. We need to be alert and careful,
but not out of control. This psalm (like Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and
strength”) is a reminder of Who we serve and Who is ultimately in control of
our eternal destiny. A few days ago the Seattle paper ran a half-page ad from
someone who wrote up a treatise, full of Bible references, about hell and the destination
of people who reject Christ. I didn’t read through it, as it struck me as
coming at people with a nail-spiked club. For the same money, the man who
placed it could have fed the hungry, helped pay for medicine, and presented the
love of the Christ who died for our sins. Better that people know we are Christians by our love, not our
Bible-banging.
As for Psalm 91’s references to “the pestilence that stalks
in the darkness” and “the plague that destroys at mid-day,” I appreciated the
wisdom of James Montgomery Boice’s commentary on this psalm. He said the
passage does not teach that we’ll be entirely
spared from disease or pestilence. On the other, we probably have no idea of
how many times He has protected us
when things could have gone really bad.
I think the key words here are “you shall not fear.” We’re to be prudent about our
health habits—and especially so in times of widespread illness—because staying
well enables us to serve Jesus longer and well until our time on earth is done.
I read somewhere that Psalm 91 was the last scripture read
by Corrie ten Boom’s brother as the entire family waited in a local police
station after their arrests for sheltering Jews. Only Corrie survived the
terrible persecutions of the war, using her extra years of life to tell people
about resting in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). That should be our
message, too.
My husband hasn’t seen a barber in decades. But before you
envision him as shaggy as a yak or buffalo, be aware that every few weeks he
sits down on a stool in the kitchen for me to return him to his low-maintenance
buzz-cut. I can do that. But if he wanted some of the men’s hairdos I see
around town—partially bleached, shorn in interesting patterns—he would need to
find another barber!
Switch this over to a spiritual analogy: I know I need a
trim daily. I need to look into the
mirror of God’s Word to make sure my attitudes and actions are pleasing in His
sight. The Holy Spirit is His scissors,
snipping away at the wild locks like resentment when someone has wronged me with
false accusations and slander.I recently ran across this quote by
Augustine, a fourth century theologian and one of the most influential
Christian leaders of his time:
Heal me of this lust
of always vindicating myself.
Both of Peter’s letters in the New Testament encourage
Christians who suffered for doing what’s right. That old problem is still
around. That’s why I’m lifted by verses like 1 Peter 3:15-16, which remind me
to be prepared to answer those who don’t like me (or my faith) with gentleness
and respect, “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously
against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” Or in
the previous chapter (2:19): “It is commendable if a man bears up under the
pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.” In other words, God
doesn’t miss a bit of the scene when we’re treated unfairly.If you need more encouragement, try this online Bible
reference: https://biblereasons.com/false-accusations/
From time to time, I review a bookmark that contrasts 36
characteristics of proud, unbroken people with those who are broken and humble
and have experienced God’s revival. Prepared
by Bible teacher Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, it’s also found here:
https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials-faith/repentance/proud-people-vs-broken-people/
Sample contrasts: Unbroken people: “Quick to blame others.” Broken people:
“Accept personal responsibility—can see where they were wrong.” Unbroken
people: “Blind to their heart condition.” Broken people: “Walk in the light.”
Nothing about vindication here. Instead, Peter advised: “Humble
yourselves...under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time”
(1Peter 5:6).
Just don’t take my word for it. If you’re feeling down about
people who put you down, read both of Peter’s letters. Trust me, if you need a
spiritual trim and a personal boost, the Holy Spirit is a great barber.
Talk about inflated egos!
There’s an old story (probably an urban legend, but a popular speech
illustration) about a Navy warship that one night detected what it thought was
another ship’s lights right in its intended course through a dangerous bay
entrance. The warship radioed the other ship, “Adjust your course. I am a large
warship.” The other alleged ship responded, “You adjust. I’m a lighthouse.”
The point of the illustration
is that an inflated sense of importance can be a dangerous thing. If we don’t
change to adapt to reality, we’re apt to crash.
The problem in life is that
we live among folks who think they are warships and that everything revolves
around them. They are the center of
their own universe, a problem psychologists call “narcissism.” It’s seen in
people who overestimate their talents or importance, feel “entitled” or “special,”
and are selfish and exploitative.
I’ve been around such people,
and I can hardly wait to get out of their “boasting zone.” They remind me of
myself as teenager whose self-esteem was wrapped up in playing the violin in
the high school orchestra. I never had private lessons so was a mediocre
player, but did I ever covet the role of “Concertmistress” (first chair), which
I finally achieved as a senior. Going to college and getting “seated” back in
the second violin section adjusted my ego downward! Along with that came
learning that every player did his or
her best for the benefit of the whole orchestra, regardless of where they were
ability-positioned.
'BIGGER THAN....'
That truth was expressed in
psychological terms in Dr. Henry Cloud’s bestselling book Integrity (Harper, 2006). He wrote that emotional healthiness means
changing course from self-centeredness to the quality of transcendence. A person with this attribute has gone beyond
thinking that life revolves around him or her, and sees that life is about
things and causes bigger than them.
“The greatest people,” he
wrote, “are the ones who have not sought greatness, but served greatly the
cause, values and missions that were much bigger than them. And by joining and
serving those, we see greatness emerge” (p. 243).
Not surprisingly, we have
that same advice in the Bible, namely Paul’s letter to Roman Christians:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
(Romans 12:3)
He goes on to describe the
various skills (or gifts) within the Christian fellowship, from preaching to
showing mercy. They all fit together
like one grand puzzle, no one piece more important than the other. When inflated egos submit to God, it’s the
spiritually altered egos that best
serve Him.
They’ll never mistake a
lighthouse for another ship.
