It all started with one rock.
Now this wasn't a tiny rock, but it wasn't a huge one either. I'm sure we all know the story of David and Goliath and what an impact one rock had in that story. Well here's another rock with a big impact for me. This one simple rock has had such an effect on the windshield of my suburban. (I know you are probably giggling or smiling a little, but I promise I have a point!) When this rock hit the windshield just under the drivers side windshield wiper of my car, it hit with full force and actually startled all of us in the car because of the loud noise it made when it hit. I was bummed to find that it had made quite a 'ding', especially since I hadn't even had my car for 6 months. I thought to myself that I should probably get it repaired before it got worse, but talked myself out of it since there was a chance I would get more dings in my windshield as the winter season here in Alaska continued. Those rocks help vehicles grip on icy roads, but boy can they do some damage as well. Many of us know that by not repairing this ding soon after it made it's indention allowed it to turn into much more than that. It now has many cracks that spread up, down and all the way across the rest of the windshield that was in perfect condition.
Isn't this a great visual in our lives? Often times we have something in our lives that makes a huge indentation or maybe just a ding. Maybe it involves a bad choice, bad judgment, a recurring sin, or even maybe an illness. It could be so many things. We notice the effect it has made in that area of our lives and we kind of ignore it. We put off repairing it. We put off repenting for it. This not only allows that mark to remain, but it actually spreads. It spreads to other parts of our lives. To our attitude, to our marriage, to our parenting. Sometimes those spreading cracks aren't very visible at first, just like when the ding in my windshield started to spread, it was such a subtle line that got a little worse every single day. Then another subtle line would appear. It not only spreads in one area of our lives, but often it can spread in multiple areas. Now this little ding has made such an impact on so many parts of our lives that we can hardly see clearly anymore. Just like my windshield now needing completely replaced in order to see clearly.
So what can we learn from this windshield illustration?
In 1 John 1:9 the Bible says,
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I LOVE this verse! It not only tells us to confess our sins but it shows the promise that we have from God. He will forgive us and PURIFY us from unrighteousness! He will repair that 'ding' in our lives. He will help it to not spread out and make other blemishes. All we have to do is confess our sins to Him and trust that we will be purified through His grace.
A month or so after this rock hit, my husband was changing the oil in the suburban. He found this infamous rock kind of stuck up under the hood near the windshield. I found it so interesting that the rock didn't just hit and then go away. It kind of clung on to the thing that it hit maybe to see the impact and the affect it would have. Isn't that just what Satan does? He knows how to get us and in a way he sticks around to delight in our 'ding' spreading.
But great, comforting news...
Isaiah 54:17 says that "no weapon forged against you will prevail..."
Luke 10:19 Jesus says, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Once again, there is hope in the grace of God. We can defeat Satan in the trials of our lives. Let's turn to God and let Him do a mighty work in us and heal us of our 'dings'!
Blessings,
Jamie
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