How Bad Does It Have to Get?

“I’m sorry. Your request has been denied. There haven’t been any accidents.”

Such was the response to a city official requesting funding from the state to improve a particular street in our town. Further research revealed that, indeed, there was no police record of a traffic accident there. While the dangers are apparent to anyone who travels that stretch of road, unfortunately there will be no street improvements until something gets broken, or worse yet, someone gets hurt.

Bizarre? Absolutely. In fact, it’s almost humorous; another fine example of the idiosyncrasies of government. But this kind of attitude is found in government bureaucracy or the archaic procedures of big business. Often individuals learn to just negotiate hazards in their lives until eventually something “breaks” or someone gets hurt. This lifestyle usually produces disasters that could have easily been avoided had the improvements been made in a more timely manner.

Sadly, there are Christians who live by the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it code of conduct. 2 Chronicles 20:33 notes that the Israelites of Jehoshaphat’s day left intact “the high places” (altars erected to the worship of false gods). Those seemingly harmless remnants of pagan worship would eventually become the cause of many spiritual accidents.

God is in the business of conforming us to the likeness of His Son (Philippians 2:13). If He wants to make an improvement in an area of your life that doesn’t seem so dangerous to you, don’t withhold the resources. Let Him work. You and those who travel with you will be safer for it.

Blessings,

Pastor Dave