A Visit To The Scrapyard An Experience
Proverbs 8
KJV
33+ Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35+ For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. 36+ But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
What you’ve just read is what we call “ wisdom personified “ wisdom speaking as if it were a person. Please read it again
Proverbs 8:33-36
NIV
[33] Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. [34] Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
[35] For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. [36] But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
Like wisdom, many wise people are crying out and calling the unwise to listen to them but to no avail. All who spurn instructions and advice in the end crash their lives! .
Many years ago I used to visit a large scrapyard located on the Tema-Kpone road. I go there to look for parts to repair my damaged car. What I often see there is what I’ve likened to life!
Beloved, Life has scrapyards, and many lives like accident cars are in the scrapyard of life! The major fault or accident that took them there is “character flaws”. Flaws that could have been corrected had those there listened to instructions and advice as the proverb writer noted.
When you visit scrapyards you’ll be surprised by the types of vehicles you’ll find there, expensive, good-looking looking etc cars what is most disturbing is to be told the type of accident (fault) that brought them there!
All the cars there have one fault in common; “character flaws” deficient in good character!
Some are slightly dented ( damaged), and can be brought back to the road; whereas others are damaged beyond repair.
The same applies to us humans, some refused to listen to instructions and advice no matter what, these are the damaged beyond repair cars in the scrapyard.
The slightly dented and brought back to the road are those who recognized their folly in time and traced their way back by heeding instructions and advice.
Most of us belonged to the second category, we were once damaged cars in the scrapyard but the Gospel of light shone on us.
Read how Paul described us; he first listed the types (character flaws /weaknesses) of cars in the scrapyard ;
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
NIV
[9] Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men [10] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
A tall list, definitely you and I are listed among the cars in the yard! . Read what he said regarding how we were brought out.
1 Corinthians 6:11
NIV
[11] And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Our “ washing, sanctification, and justification” came as a result of our listening to instructions and advice. If we can keep these instructions and advice we shall be worthy cars and will remain on the road to Heaven!
Any time you drive past a scrapyard let it remind you that you were once there but grace brought you out.
Maranatha