System OK?

April 30, 2008

By Randy Mantik

Our water softener didn’t work quite right to begin with, so we briefly experienced what our water would be like without it. Yuck! Reddish tinged water with little brown floaties somehow has a way of making a bath less than inspiring and a glass of water downright disgusting! But with the softener, the water is crystal clear!

A remote monitor for the softener sits by the kitchen sink and displays three checkpoints: “System OK,” “Low Salt” and “Check System.” Usually a green light glows by the “System OK” indicator, but when the light shows up at one of the other two spots, we know the unit needs prompt attention.

Debbie looked at the monitor one morning and had one of those wonderful moments that happen from time to time where the Holy Spirit steps in and teaches a practical truth from the regular stuff of life. (And it doesn’t get much more regular than a water softener.) As she looked at the monitor, the “Low Salt” checkpoint caught her eye and brought to mind the Scripture where Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Matthew 5:13, NIV).

To Debbie, it was such a perfect picture of our lives as Christians. Just as that little monitor by the sink lets us know how the water softener is working, the Holy Spirit does the same thing in our hearts by which, if we pay careful attention to Him, we can maintain optimum “operating levels”!

He is faithful to warn us when our “system” needs checking — when we need to stop and evaluate whether we are living in a manner that’s pleasing to God. How do we do that? Through the Word, prayer, fellowship and accountability.

The Holy Spirit will also let us know when our “salt level” is getting low. The salt in our water softener is the ingredient that makes the water pure. God’s presence in us purifies us. When we live lives filled with impurity, it shows! Others look at our character and see the brackish, brown water of our impure lives. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Peter wrote, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).

Our lives should overflow with God’s love. We should be growing daily in our relationship with God and with others. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). We can’t just say we love; we have to demonstrate love.

Is your “system OK”? Ask God to help you develop a servant’s heart. Look for opportunities to serve others in big and small ways.

— Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church in Pembine, Wis.