Contrôle Technique

For those who do not understand the heading, it is the French equivalent of the UK Ministry of Transport test (MOT) and, I am delighted to report that, when I submitted our car, last week, it passed! Part of the reason for that was my having just replaced all four tyres - two because they had reached the limit of the legal tread depth; and two because, although they had plenty of tread depth, they were not the same brand of tyre on a single axle - a French requirement that is not a UK one!

Of course, while I was aware of the tyre situation, there were many other issues on which the car could have been failed - issues of which I would have been totally unaware! I am thinking, for example, of the exhaust emissions. I had no idea as to whether, or not, they would be within the acceptable range!

It occurred to me, afterwards, that this is a bit like sin in my life! There are some sins of which, like my unsatisfactory tyres, I am all too well aware. These are the sins to which. I believe, the anonymous writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus was referring when he wrote: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, ..." (12:1; emphasis added). There are areas in my life in which the enemy knows that I am most vulnerable - and he takes every opportunity to attack me there! Left to my own devices, I would always fail and, sadly, I often do. However, that quotation for Hebrews continues: "... looking to Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (vs. 2-4; emphasis added). That's the answer - "... looking to Jesus ..."!

The important thing is to deal with these sins, as I dealt with my tyres - and to do so in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and with the assistance of God the Holy Spirit.

Of course, there may be other sins of which I have not yet become fully aware, or which I simply don't recognise as 'sin'! These are the equivalent of the exhaust emissions, or of a crack in a spring, in my car. This is where I have to ask for discernment, that I may recognise those "unconscious" sins for what they are. It may even be that I have to ask someone else - someone whom I trust! - to point them out to me, just as the Contrôle Technique examiner (or the MOT test examiner) would point out the problem with emissions, springs, brake discs, etc. Of course, when they have been identified, those sins, too, need to be dealt with!

Amost exactly five years ago, I published a post on "A spiritual MOT test!" You may be able to use the link to read the whole post, but let me repost a check-list (not my original!) that I shared then:

• am I clean in word, thought, and deed?
• is Christ, as far as I can make Him, the Head of my home?
• do they know that I am a disciple of Jesus where I work?
• are other people likely to be drawn to better things for knowing me?
• do I guard time, each day, for reading my Bible, and for prayer?
• do I regularly attend worship services, and attend at the Lord's Table?
• do other people find it easy to work with me in Christian service?
• am I generous, as far as I am honestly able, to Christian work?
• am I growing in Christ?

That list stands. It is a useful set of checks for self-examination. However, I think that I would wish to add to it! For example:

• what are the web-sites that I have marked as 'Favourites'? Are there any that would cause me embarrasment if my pastor were to see them? I recall some years ago, on a visit, asking my host if I might have access to the internet to check some e-mails. The access was readily given and, as I logged on, the 'Favourites' list was displayed. I noticed one site that I thought was that of a newspaper, but with a typing error in the name. I clicked on the link - and discovered, to my shock, that there was no typing error, as I was taken to a site that was obviously intended for those with an interest in homosexuality! To say that I was shocked would be something of an understatement!
• am I in control of my temper? Or is it that, even in print, I constantly resort to the use of upper-case letters - the literary equivalent, I am told, of angry verbal shouting?
• how am I treating those most close to me? I recall my own minister, spiritual mentor, and personal friend, the late Rev. George B Duncan, often commenting that if we really wanted to know what sort of person he was, we should ask his wife! We only saw him as "the minister"; she lived with him! We saw him at his best; she saw him at his worst! What would my own wife have to say about me?!! Perhaps I should ask her before anyone else does!

You see, all of the above applies as much to me as it does to anyone who might read this post - and maybe more than it does to some! The life of a disciple of Jesus is not a life of sinless perfection, but of sanctification as, through the indwelling of Holy Spirit, Father God makes me more like Jesus. A little home-made plaque on my study wall has these words: "In this life I shall never be sinless but, by God's grace, I may sin less!" (emphasis added). I think that the words are original! They are certainly true! 

My car is now, officially, considered to be roadworthy for another two years. But what about me? Am I still worthy to be a disciple of Jesus? If I am, and I trust that I am, it is all due to His grace, and mercy, and love. All of that is available to you, too.  Have you availed yourself of it? If not, why not? 

A special day.

Today is a very special day!   It is now a full forty-three years since a vision in white walked up the aisle of St George's-Tron Parish Church building, on her father's arm and, in the sight of God and the gathered congregation, she and I committed ourselves, each to the other, in a covenant relationship that may only be broken when one of us dies.  I have made many wrong choices in my life-time, but that was one that I have never had cause to regret.  The Lord gave me the most loving, faithful, supportive, and encouraging wife that was possible, and I daily thank Him for her.

At sunset, today, the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashana - will also commence.  This will be a two-day holiday, which will conclude on Friday evening at which time Jews will welcome the first Shabbat (Sabbath) of the New Year.

According to Jewish tradition, God completed the creation of the world on Rosh Hashana. Every year on this day, He takes inventory - an annual accounting. He sits in judgement over all mankind, reviewing the ‘file’ of every human being. He examines our past, our present, and our future. He weighs our actions, our behaviour, and our relationships. He looks to see what direction we are going in. He evaluates what kind of year we are going to have. A true day of judgement. Our lives are in the scales.

Commencing at Rosh Hashana, devout Jews will take part in the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah - the Ten Days of Repentance, leading to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), their most special day in the year.  During this ten-day period, there will be serious self-examination, and an attempt to make peace with any who have been offended during the previous year.

When disciples of Jesus gather around the Lord's Table for the sacrament of Holy Communion, they often read words written by the apostle Paul, to the early church in Corinth (see I Cor.11:23-26).  However, not all continue to read the following verses, as far as v.32.  They include this exhortation: "Let a man examine himself, ..." (vs.28).   How often believers come to the Table without that self-examination!  We are happy to remember what the Table symbolises; we are happy to give thanks for the sacrifice made on our behalf - the ultimate 'atonement'; we are happy to partake of the elements.  However, I am convinced that, when Paul wrote those words he was thinking, as one who had been steeped in Judaism, of that period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur - those ten days of repentance.  I am convinced that he was encouraging his readers to look carefully at themselves, and recognise their complete and utter unworthiness to even handle those elements that speak of the broken Body and the shed Blood of God the Son.

Of course, if he had stopped there, then the sacrament would be a miserable affair!  Praise God, he didn't.  He continued, "... and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup."  You see, it's as I realise my own unworthiness that I am made fit to partake!  If I come, with something of a laissez-faire attitude, assuming that I have the right to do so, then I have no right and, as Paul goes on to point out, I eat and drink judgement upon myself! (see v.29).

So, Shanah Tovah to my Jewish friends - and an encouragement, to all of us who claim to follow the Lord Jesus, to truly examine ourselves every time we come to the Table.

A spiritual MOT test!

Every year, I am obliged to present my car to a suitably registered garage for its MOT test.  If all is well, I receive the appropriate certificate - if not, I have to attend to the fault(s) which the qualified mechanic has discovered.

Although not legally necessary, I also take our touring caravan to our local dealer, on an annual basis, for a service.  Various matters are checked - electrics, brakes, evidence of damp, etc. - and whatever requires attention is attended to.

I am now at the stage in life that it is wise to visit my doctor from time to time, to have a physical check-up.  He is able to check my blood pressure, my joints, my lungs, etc. and decide if I need further treatment of any sort.

Dr W.E.Sangster, in one of his books, suggested that every disciple of Jesus needs, from time to time, to check up on his/her spiritual life.  He suggested the following check-list (slightly amended) as being helpful in this kind of self-examination:

• am I clean in word, thought, and deed?
• is Christ, as far as I can make Him, the Head of my home?
• do they know that I am a disciple of Jesus where I work?
• are other people likely to be drawn to better things for knowing me?
• do I guard time, each day, for reading my Bible, and for prayer?
• do I regularly attend worship services, and attend at the Lord's Table?
• do other people find it easy to work with me in Christian service?
• am I generous, as far as I am honestly able, to Christian work?
• am I growing in Christ?

In the familiar words from Paul's first letter to the early believers in Corinth, he gives the words that are frequently read as disciples of Jesus approach the Lord's Table (I Cor.11:23ff), we often stop at "... you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." (v.26).  However, the apostle continues : "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself [or herself], and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the Body eats and drinks judgement upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died." (vs.27-30; emphasis added).

Perhaps more of us need to attend to that matter of self-examination - that spiritual check-up!  Of course, when we do so, we quickly realise that we are unworthy.  That's when grace comes in.  In one of the many paradoxes of the Christian Faith, it is only when I become aware of, and confess, my unworthiness, that I am made worthy!

A spiritual MOT test!  Don't make it just an annual affair!  Let those of us who bear the name of the Saviour be regular in our self-examination, and quick to deal with those matters that such an examination will reveal - knowing that we have the willing help of God the Holy Spirit in what is, in fact, the process of sanctification (but don't forget the previous post!).