Shortly after 08:00 one morning this week, I found myself travelling north on the A5, my first stop of the day already done. There are lay-bys all along the miles and miles of highways here where truck drivers can pull over for a bit of shut-eye, but most of them were deserted at that time of the morning; most drivers had probably already found their first coffee charging point to start the day.
Except for this one spot. As I got closer, I recognised the baby blue Amazon Prime truck, and instinctively my South African heart jolted … The huge steel doors were wide open and I could see there was not a single thing in the back of that truck.
Hijacking?
Armed robbery?
“No.” The answer from my British brain interrupted my self-talk.
“Leaving the truck doors open to show they have nothing of value on board hopefully secured the driver a good night’s rest.”
My mind wandered to the times I thought emptiness was better than fulness.
Empty of envy, anxiety, malice, unforgivingness, bitterness …
For when the enemy sees that I have a truckload of these things, he can use it against me to make me think the Lord doesn’t have a place at His table for someone as laden with sin as me.
But if I offload these things often – if I take it to the Lord myself – I don’t only deny the enemy the pleasure from my embarrassment, but at the same time, with every drop-off, I’m also confessing that I accept my invitation to his table with gratitude and gladness.
That truck driver would most probably have picked up a new load even before his first garage pie lunch.
As the saying goes: “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.”
And sin.
While we are on this side of heaven, the enemy will constantly use it to drive a wedge between God and us. Or try to, at least.
There is an antidote to this:
“But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life,
you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.
When a storm rolled in and the waves came up,
it collapsed like a house of cards.”
Matthew 7:26-27 (The Message)
Getting together and chatting around coffee and a few open Bibles while we encourage each other in prayer is a comfort. When those same discussions flow over into my life outside of my inner circle, it becomes a shield and a sword and, at the same time, also a deep foundation for my faith.
Offload.
Shake the dust off your feet.
Deeper things are waiting.
Your inspiration for the week: God is on the move
ALSO READ: Negligibly small
