Those of us who have studied sociology or psychology can probably remember hearing a professor say that human behavior is generally derived from two things, heredity and environment. I never had a problem believing this. I would just look at myself and the varying aspects of my upbringing and see this at work. When it came to being taught to do most everything, my family was exacting. For example, my father taught me to paint. I’m still pretty good at it. That said, he would likely laugh today at all the painter’s tape that gets wrapped around doors, door knobs and windows. He had the genetic skill and mental tenacity to calm his hand and thus be able to pull a smooth straight line along the wall and ceiling, around a door or window and along the wall and a molding with just the paint brush. The same with my uncle Bill who taught me how to wash his car; and thus today, my car. If
I had grown up learning from anyone else, well let’s just say I would have had to unlearn. It just had to
be washed Uncle Bill’s way. And then there was my great grandfather; we called him papa. Papa taught me how to plant a garden. And he taught me that one doesn’t just throw the seed in the ground. The preparation that comes before and the care after were every bit as important as how one placed the seed in the hole, the hill or the furrow. And my mother, she taught me how to cook, but from afar. She lectured me on how to prepare myself nearly as much as the food itself.
As I think on the lessons of everyday life that I was taught growing up, the reality is that my family was pretty exacting. Now, I am also an observer of the people around me. What I have observed over the last twenty to thirty years is that we as a society are not so exacting anymore. I especially see this in how we raise our children. Most children aren’t taught to mow the grass, paint a room, wash a car or cook a meal. Yes, I know a few are, but not within our society as a whole.
I believe God is pretty exacting too. And if we grow up believing any old standard will do, then chances are we can end up easily living according to the world’s standard instead of God’s. I know what you’re thinking. You’re asking yourself, how is God exacting? Okay; take for instance, the creation of the universe, especially the earth, the creation of humanity. In each, there is instance after instance of the necessity of exact parameters that when upset, creates the potential for catastrophe. For instance, the axis on which the earth sits is pretty exact. A few degrees of change in either direction would affect climate change the world over. Moreover, have you considered the temperature of the human body? A few degrees of change in either direction can cause dire health consequences, even death.
Then there’s the creation account which also seems to relate how exacting God is. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...”
I raise this exacting theme because August marks the winding down of summer. As summer comes to a close, a lot of us will arrange vacations and attend family outings; school will start back in a matter of weeks. It’s time to reorganize and get ready to get back into the work and school fall groove. So I wonder, how will living our faith in these days change or affect our lives. How exacting will we be? John Wesley, the founder of Methodism preached excellence; except he called excellence in the Christian life “a going on to Christian perfection.” So what about you? As you live your life, do you see it as an opportunity to be exacting for Him? Do you see it as an opportunity “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? Might you offer yourself, and might this be your spiritual act of worship? (Romans 12:1-2)
Blessings!
Pastor Jim
