"Idiot Lights"

 

“Idiot Lights”

(Thanks to Karen for the idea.)

 

Since 2009 we’ve had a 2001 Nissan Altima as a backup to three primary vehicles we’ve had at different times. It still runs well despite its decrepit appearance and idiosyncrasies such as  windows which may or may not open on command and check engine and emergency brake lights which stay on. But it’s still useful for running around town and parking at airports.

While driving many miles on our “family loop” trip in September Karen and I were talking about the Nissan’s “unique qualities”, especially the lights on the dashboard. This led to our memories of the “Idiot Light Era”. The term’s origin is unknown but it refers to warning lights which began to replace gauges for temperature, oil pressure and battery charging in the 1930’s. They’re still used in some ways (e.g. tire pressure, doors ajar and seat belts) but most cars today have gone back to the gauges so we can know when problems are approaching and potential impacts can be prevented.

Even when our automobiles try to warn us of trouble on the horizon with idiot lights and gauge needles moving towards the danger zone we as humans are prone to ignore them. (See the previous posting, “Heeding Warnings”, for other examples.) The same can be said of God’s directives given in His Word. The phrase, “Take heed” appears more than 60 times in Scripture and is also translated “Guard yourself”, “Beware” and “Pay attention”, suggesting that God expects us to think carefully before acting in a reckless manner.

In his book Saving Christianity Dr. Michael Youssef shows how a small deviation from God’s truth can lead to a devastating outcome down the road, reflecting Paul’s warning that “…a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (1 Corinthians 5:6). Returning to the car analogy, let’s monitor the gauges of our lives (“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”—Lamentations 3:40) before we’re confronted with a divine “idiot light” and the resulting damage. So let’s pray with David, “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5, emphasis added).

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan