“If you hold up on the handle just right, the pantry door will stay closed,” I said.
On our most recent RV journey, the pantry door had become loose on its hinges and did not operate like it was intended. But if you held it just so, it would work.
After a while, we got used to the way this door operated, and we thought it was ok. But really, we were just making do.
A few other things in the RV had seen some wear and tear from the bouncing and jostling around as the trailer swayed going down the road.
So, as we came home, I knew we had to do some maintenance to return our fifth wheel to its optimized condition, the condition it was intended to operate from.
We humans are also created to operate from an optimized condition, and sometimes we just need a little maintenance.
The term well-oiled machine often refers to a team that runs smoothly together. A machine that runs on all cylinders. Or a well-coached team operating at its optimized capacity.
We also were created to operate at a certain optimized capacity. We operate best when we are at peace with our God and our fellow human beings. Continuing to follow God’s ways and instructions help keep our lives running smoothly.
Proverbs 8:32-35 reminds us, “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For, blessed are they who keep my ways. Heed instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, watching at my doorposts. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.”
We were intended to walk and talk with God.
We have been given the best coach and talents. We just have to get them to operate in the manner that they were intended to operate—in cooperation with Him.
Life will take us down a bouncing jostling road. Sometimes we can become loose on our hinges or go off the rails.
Get back into His instruction. Get back into His word, worship, and prayer. Spend a little time being in His presence. Spend a little time walking and talking with Him. We have Him as our coach, and we can begin to live life like a well-oiled machine.
When we walk in His presence, we walk in His favor.
As we enjoy being with our Lord, He fixes our life to run like a well-oiled machine.
I spent a little time spent tightening some screws, and the door operated just like it was intended. It opened and closed smoothly, like a well-oiled machine.
-Howie Johnson, Deeper Walk Ministries
