“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”—Romans 8:28 (NIV).
I recall using a teaching tool to help my high school students understand the importance of following directions. At the top of the page, the first instructions were “to read everything before doing anything on the list.”
While I don’t recall all of the items on the list, some were ridiculous. Numbers one and two on the list were:
Write your name in the top right-hand corner of the page.
Write today’s date in the top left-hand corner of the page.
The very last on the list of approximately 20 questions was “Do only numbers one and two on this list.” Many ignored the instructions and would do each on the list, which became gradually embarrassing. For example, one of the instructions included, “Stand up and shout your name aloud.” You can imagine the red faces when those students realized they only had to do the first two things on the list. It was a great lesson in following instructions.
Recently, I was listening to the first in a sermon series by Pastor Andy Stanley called “Starting Over.” Stanley said, “Many of us don’t like to follow directions. But there’s a price to pay for rushing into a situation without knowing what we’re doing. We get things wrong. And by the time we go back, undo everything we messed up, and then do it correctly, we’ve wasted more time than if we’d just followed the directions to begin with.”
While a trick test like the one above only serves to embarrass us, Pastor Stanley’s sermon emphasized the consequences we face when we rush into a life situation without following directions. However, we can avoid repeating past mistakes and find ourselves starting over.
Stanley used three myths to make his point:
“The Experience Myth” leads us to believe we are wiser because of our experiences. Not so, says Stanley. However, if we evaluate our past experiences, it can be a game-changer.
“The Know-Better Experience” myth leads us to say, “Since I know better, I’ll do better,” says Stanley. “Just because we know right from wrong doesn’t mean we’ll do the right thing.” Again, we have to evaluate our experiences and make changes.
“The Time Myth” maintains that “time is against me.” Stanley says, “I’m not getting younger is the most destructive myth.” It’s also the myth of self-absorbed people who make self-absorbed decisions, Stanley explains.
He adds, “Time is your friend. People who wait on God always come out on top.”
Waiting on God can be difficult, but as Stanley says, “If you don’t allow God to use those experiences in your life (to help others), they’ll come back to haunt you.”
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 28:8 that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Even if we don’t follow directions the first time around, we know God’s grace is sufficient.