The Box in the Entryway

I like to think that I am usually on the right side of things. When it comes to making a decision or resolving some conflict, I like to believe that I do everything the right way; that I live my life acting the way God would want me to - that my choices, preferences and judgments are the same as his. I like to believe that I live a life being led by God rather than being led by my more selfish and unflattering nature. We all want to see the best in ourselves, believing that we are living at the highest standard we can. But human nature is a tricky beast.

Last week I set up a new bunkbed for my girls. It came in a long 2 foot by 7 foot box separated into its individual components. Being an incredibly adept male I put it together with as little intrusion from the instructions as possible. In the process I had to disassemble their old beds and put some of the old supporting boards into the empty box to take to the trash. When we lived in Normal, IL, you could put anything on the curb for the garbage guys and they would take it - boards, boxes, old dishwashers...you name it. It was an amazing and enlightened time. In Lee's Summit, MO, they have no such garbage courtesy. You pay extra for the pickup of anything that does not fit in a trash can. Not wanting to pay nearly $40 to drop a long box of boards and styrofoam on my own curb, I left it by the door in the entryway of my house until I could find someone with a truck I could borrow to take it out to the dump.

You all know how this story ends. The box is still sitting in my entryway, resting in the same spot it has for the last eight days. Somehow it is easy for us to get so used to the messes in our lives that we don't even realize they are there anymore. We all want to think that we are living right, making good choices, but are we? Or are we just gazing past clutter that we have grown accustomed to?

The Bible, in the book of Galatians, has a great way to diagnose whether or not we are really doing as well as we think we are by pointing out the results that we will see in our lives when we live a certain way. Here's the bad news:

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.
Galatians 5:19-21

I'm willing to bet that you are no sorcerer, but when is the last time you got into a stupid argument with someone? Maybe you aren't likely to be found drunk at a crazy party, but you are quick to lose your temper. Maybe you are reading this thinking how stupid I am because everyone else is always wrong. If there is something on this list that describes you, it means that you are following the worst part of your nature instead of following God. It's pretty eye opening isn't it? I mean, we're not talking about murder and theft here...we're talking about anger, jealousy and division. If you can see these things in your relationships, it's time to reset your moral compass.

Here's the good news:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23

There is also a benchmark to know if you really are doing as well as you think. And not only is it a benchmark, it's a promise. If you live your life led by God, you will experience real love, joy, peace and all of the above. These things are not just identifiers of whether or not you are living right, but they are guaranteed results if you follow God. Are you in need of some peace in the chaos around you? Are you struggling with something and need more self-control? Do you want to wake up every morning feeling true and genuine joy? Where God leads, these things follow.