What You Need If You Have A Screw Loose

On a recent visit to the Gordon Food Service DC in Shepherdsville, Ky. where I make a weekly visit as a chaplain, after going through some stretching exercises with the maintenance department, one the guys reminded his co-workers that due to the continual operation of the machinery the entire warehouse was constantly vibrating.  He continued to tell them that this could result in screws and bolts gradually becoming loose, and in some cases possibly backing out all together.  This of course could potentially lead to a dangerous situation so he encouraged everyone to be on the lookout.

This got me thinking.  We live in a broken, imperfect world that is in need of constant maintenance.  Things come loose and need to be tightened up.  Constant vigilance is required to avoid and prevent accidents.

I remember reading about a man named Asaph who was coming undone.  He wrote about his experience in Psalm 73.  Asaph was a devout follower of the God of Israel.  He was deeply convinced of God's goodness to His people.  However, Asaph began to notice the prosperity of the wicked.  They had no interest in and no devotion to God - and in spite of this they were doing quite well.  

Asaph couldn't believe what he was seeing.  He couldn't understand it, it made no sense to him.  Asaph even began to question his own devotion to God.  Asaph was coming undone.  He needed some maintenance.  Asaph needed to be tightened up - but how?  Let's look:

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.( Ps 73:16-17)

Asaph came to worship, and it was there that the Spirit of God began to drive down the truth of God's Word deep into Asaph's soul.  What the agitation of a life lived in a fallen world had worked loose, the worship of God had tightened up.

If you feel like you're coming undone (at times we all do!); if  the world has shaken you so severely that you're not seeing things clearly; I encourage you - come in for some spiritual maintenance.  Come and worship God together with God's people.   

Pastor Van