Growing up on the farm, we had a TON of quick fix remedies. None of these were ever intended to be long term, but we could make it work if we had to.
We learned at an early age how to cut cardboard just right to fit a broken window (which was recently kicked out while wrestling or knocked out with a baseball). Or how to tarp a leaky roof while in the rain. But probably the greatest of all remedies were Duck Tape and baling wire.
Baling wire could cinch up a busted fence or serve as a quick hose clamp on a tractor. Duck Tape could patch up dang near any rubber material and make it waterproof for a short amount of time (sometimes indefinite, depending on the amount used).
The Wildman would swear by this philosophy. He always had a roll or two of each in the truck because, “You never know when something would come up.” I recall seeing numerous swather teeth held on by a few strategically placed wires instead of the traditional nut and bolt assembly. Tractor seats and shades were patched here and there with the silver savior.
Looking back on the last few blogs, I could tell a pattern. Unmasked and Broken dealt with our flaws. The Lord put it on my heart to write about mending the brokenness that was unmasked to tie the “series” together.
You see, just like on the farm, we try to mend our lives with temporary fixes. For example, you might be dealing with anxiety or depression. You know you have these issues and something has to be done to fix it. So you busy out the Duck Tape and baling wire to mend your life. This works, for a time. A week goes by with no incident or problems and you’re “cured.” But the Deciever is not so easily swayed.
By the Deciever, I mean the devil. He’s the little god of this world. All he wants to do is to ruin your life. That’s evident from John 10:10 (“The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy”) and 1 Peter 5:9 (“The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.”). He’s got you thinking that your quick fix is the solution to all of your problems. But really, you’ve only prolonged your suffering.
The only way to actually mend your life is to follow the second portion of those verses that previously served as warnings. John 10:10 follows up it’s warning with “but I’ve come to give you life, and life in abundance.” Life is offered to us by Jesus. LIFE! A whole, complete life! Without spot or blemish! No depression, anxiety, fear or anger. Just a complete life in Him!
But the devil has you fooled into thinking the Duck Tape and baling wire are enough, when truly…only God is enough. The devil even has you fooled into thinking that you’re the only one. The absolute, 100 percent, only person who has ever dealt with any type of negative feeling. But the verses following 1 Peter 5:9 deals with that too!
“Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 MSG
WE get the final say in our life through Christ! WE get to be mended and fixed through His grace and His blood that was shed on the cross. Why settle for a temporary fix, when a forever fix is right there?
Now is it going to be all puppies and rainbows from there on out? Heck no it’s not! You have to keep working and striving to be a better Christian than you were the day before. You have to remember that God’s mercies are new every day (Lam. 3:22-23) and being His kid, you get access to those!
I want you to be mended and encouraged not merely taped and cinched up for a time. But the time for mending is now!
Y’all be safe out there.
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