A few years ago, when we purchased my wife’s car, we quickly discovered all the newfangled gadgets that had been inserted into cars over the intervening decade since our last purchase. Some of this was most welcome. Things like satellite radio, the ability to sync our phones with the audio system, etc… Other aspects took a little more getting used to.
It all happened this way. We had purchased the car around the first of summer. A few months later, as fall unfolded, the car’s built in sensors notified us that the tire pressure was too low. I dutifully checked all four tires. Everything was in order. But still the notifications persisted. So, failing all my remedies, I took it to the local tire shop.
There, I was told the change in outside air temperature read by the sensors meant that the tires needed slight adjustments in pressure, or something to that effect. Apparently there are differing optimal pressures for both summer and winter driving. In any event, the good folks at the dealer resolved the issue, telling me no real harm would have been done had I kept the pressure where it was.
Fast forward a few years. I bought my truck a year or so ago after my SUV was wrecked. This spring, I had a new set of tires put on. And, you guessed it… Like clockwork, as fall arrived, my truck’s sensors notified me that my tire pressure was off. Well, I knew what the issue was; and since I was busy, I ignored the matter for nearly a whole week and kept driving. Until this morning, that is.
When I got up, my right front tire was almost flat! I pumped it up enough to get back to the tire dealer. This time I was told that the new tire had not sealed properly to the rim when first installed. Of course, the dealer fixed the problem immediately at no charge. And after a rotation, balance, oil change and service, I was on my way again.
As I have reflected on this series of events throughout this day, I have been reminded that it is best not to try and out guess either my wife’s car or my truck. The people who built them put the internal sensors inside them to keep them running at peak performance. And if the sensors go off, it is most certainly for a reason.
Now, that reason may reflect a very small issue, as in the case of my wife’s car, or a very serious issue, as in the case of my truck. But either way, when the sensors go off, it behooves the two of us to pay attention.
I know of another mechanism designed and constructed with sensors. It is called a human body. And the One Who designed it placed sensors within it to tell us when it needs attention. Whether those sensors are mild, like hunger, thirst, or sleepiness, or harsh, like pain or injury, it behooves us to pay attention to them.
Likewise, the One Who designed the human body also designed the human soul. And He placed within that soul a similar set of sensors. Whenever sensors go off here, as for instance, with guilt, conviction, or remorse, it also behooves us to pay attention. Quite frankly, we ignore these alarms to our peril!
And just as a flat surpasses a need for a slight adjustment in pressure, just as pain surpasses simply being a little tired, so do the consequences of ignoring one’s conscience surpass the un-comfortableness of making a matter right, whatever it is, before it ever goes too far.
In short, my friends, messing up and then having to admit it is tough. But God gave each of us a conscience for a reason. And it behooves each of us to pay attention to our respective consciences the moment they sound the alarm! Otherwise, we wind up with a far bigger problem in the long run!
In the New Testament Book of Acts (chapters 21-23, specifically 23:1) the Apostle Paul was dragged before the authorities. As he began his defense for being a follower of Jesus Christ, he was able to give the following affirmation: “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” May we all be able to share such a testimony!
SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/acts/23-1.htm.
It all happened this way. We had purchased the car around the first of summer. A few months later, as fall unfolded, the car’s built in sensors notified us that the tire pressure was too low. I dutifully checked all four tires. Everything was in order. But still the notifications persisted. So, failing all my remedies, I took it to the local tire shop.
There, I was told the change in outside air temperature read by the sensors meant that the tires needed slight adjustments in pressure, or something to that effect. Apparently there are differing optimal pressures for both summer and winter driving. In any event, the good folks at the dealer resolved the issue, telling me no real harm would have been done had I kept the pressure where it was.
Fast forward a few years. I bought my truck a year or so ago after my SUV was wrecked. This spring, I had a new set of tires put on. And, you guessed it… Like clockwork, as fall arrived, my truck’s sensors notified me that my tire pressure was off. Well, I knew what the issue was; and since I was busy, I ignored the matter for nearly a whole week and kept driving. Until this morning, that is.
When I got up, my right front tire was almost flat! I pumped it up enough to get back to the tire dealer. This time I was told that the new tire had not sealed properly to the rim when first installed. Of course, the dealer fixed the problem immediately at no charge. And after a rotation, balance, oil change and service, I was on my way again.
As I have reflected on this series of events throughout this day, I have been reminded that it is best not to try and out guess either my wife’s car or my truck. The people who built them put the internal sensors inside them to keep them running at peak performance. And if the sensors go off, it is most certainly for a reason.
Now, that reason may reflect a very small issue, as in the case of my wife’s car, or a very serious issue, as in the case of my truck. But either way, when the sensors go off, it behooves the two of us to pay attention.
I know of another mechanism designed and constructed with sensors. It is called a human body. And the One Who designed it placed sensors within it to tell us when it needs attention. Whether those sensors are mild, like hunger, thirst, or sleepiness, or harsh, like pain or injury, it behooves us to pay attention to them.
Likewise, the One Who designed the human body also designed the human soul. And He placed within that soul a similar set of sensors. Whenever sensors go off here, as for instance, with guilt, conviction, or remorse, it also behooves us to pay attention. Quite frankly, we ignore these alarms to our peril!
And just as a flat surpasses a need for a slight adjustment in pressure, just as pain surpasses simply being a little tired, so do the consequences of ignoring one’s conscience surpass the un-comfortableness of making a matter right, whatever it is, before it ever goes too far.
In short, my friends, messing up and then having to admit it is tough. But God gave each of us a conscience for a reason. And it behooves each of us to pay attention to our respective consciences the moment they sound the alarm! Otherwise, we wind up with a far bigger problem in the long run!
In the New Testament Book of Acts (chapters 21-23, specifically 23:1) the Apostle Paul was dragged before the authorities. As he began his defense for being a follower of Jesus Christ, he was able to give the following affirmation: “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” May we all be able to share such a testimony!
SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/acts/23-1.htm.