I kept driving down the road.  It still seemed like I had to give it more gas than normal.  And it definitely seemed louder than normal.  I’m now starting to be convinced my car is going down the drain from here.  ”Wonderful… But hey, God will provide.”  I turn on my CD player, enjoy Third Day as it plays, and quickly forget about the noise as it’s drowned out.  A few minutes later, while checking my speed I notice something.  I’m driving in D3, not normal D, (also called D4)!  I quickly changed it and immediately noticed the car’s performance return to normal.

I was driving in D3, and this was causing my car’s engine to have to work harder, use more gas, and be unnecessarily overworked.  Then I was reminded:  How many times do we do this to ourselves spiritually?

We allow sin into our lives. In all different forms.  We decide that it’s alright for us, for whatever reason.  What God’s Word tells us is that sin, firstly, is against God and displeases Him.  But it also shows us that there are consequences for it, it drags us down, it corrodes us, it destroys us and those around us.  It gives us battles and problems we don’t need to be fighting, it distracts us, and it slows down or even stops Christians as they are serving and growing in Jesus.  Sometimes the problem is, when we ask ourselves, “What’s wrong?”  We don’t see there being a problem with us, and figure it must just be everyday stuff we face.

So which gear are we in, spiritually speaking?  Is it D3? D2?  Or even “Park” because the sin we refuse to give up and repent from?

I’m reminded of the words of Paul in Romans:

(Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

If you see a reason you’re in a gear besides “D4″, wholeheartedly chasing and serving Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith.  I encourage you to lay it aside.  It’s never easy to shift those gears, it’s actually impossible!  We naturally don’t want to be in “D4″!   But Jesus offers us forgiveness for the sin and the punishment for it, freedom from the evil, the transformed heart that hates it and desires Him, the guidance from the Holy Spirit, and the power to live for Him, the King of the universe.  All through the complete work He chose to do for us on the cross.

Let’s wholeheartedly serve our Amazing, Heavenly Father.  Let’s ask for His help to get into “D4″.