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Don't Tell My Neurosurgeon!
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. —1 THESSALONIANS 5:8 (NIV)
After my healing from two life-saving spinal surgeries ending in a neck fusion, my neurosurgeon said I could do anything I felt capable of doing, including riding my bike. But she warned me not to fall, under any circumstances, which could be absolutely disastrous for my head and/or neck.
Because I had trouble riding my road bike without severe neck pain due to the strain in holding my head up to see, I got a professional bike fit and subsequent modification to make it easier. On my first ride with the reconfigured bike, I did great, and was comfortable, that is until I was about to turn onto my dirt street. I slowed and grabbed the brakes, but began sliding on sand on the road, fishtailed, then fell down hard—bruised, bloodied, and sore. My helmet was dented and broken.
Incredibly, I was fine, with no head or neck pain. A truck driven by a paramedic stopped to check on me—perhaps a divine appointment. Then came a firetruck with lights flashing and siren blaring, followed by a police car with lights and siren
similarly drawing attention. Someone had called in to report seeing a cyclist lying on the road who’d been hit by a truck. Was I ever embarrassed!
But it made me think of how important my bike helmet was in preventing damage to my head and fused neck. It also reminded me of how important the helmet of salvation is—mentioned in Isaiah, Ephesians, and 1 Thessalonians. Roman centurions always placed their helmets on last, after the rest of their armor was applied, as a last measure of protection for their most vital organ, their brain. Our salvation, likened in Scripture to a helmet over our head, is even more critical in protecting what’s most important in our Spiritual lives—the very essence of Christ in us.
Lord, may I not only wear my bike helmet each time I ride, but daily apply all the spiritual armor, not the least of which is the helmet of salvation which protects my position in Christ.
Upside Down Priorities
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. —ROMANS 1:25 (NIV)
Jerry, a psychologist, was a long-standing optometry patient of mine. During an annual eye exam, he purchased new glasses with a bright blue frame, not something easily missed. A few weeks later he came into the clinic wearing his new glasses, and had an interesting request of the front desk: could everyone in the office, including me, his eye doctor, come outside to check out his new car? Somewhat surprised, we all filed out to view his brand-new Mazda Miata—painted bright blue. He announced he intentionally bought the car to match his new glasses—we all roared with laughter, including Jerry!
Does anyone besides me find this odd? It reminds me of how easy it is to forsake our first love for just about anything else. On one level, we all know someone who is overzealous about a football team, a job title, a singer/songwriter, or a new recreational vehicle. If we’re honest, we all do that in some way or another. But to value a pair of glasses over a new car seems over the top.
Jesus wants to be first in our lives, with nothing else coming close. Yet, how easy it is to lose sight of that and pursue things with truly no lasting value. It’s time for us, as believers, to recommit to our first love, the one who will eventually escort us into heaven with none of our earthly belongings— no sports car, no football team, no special title, no glasses. Just us, and Him. Isn’t that worth giving Him a higher priority, and placing Him now at the center of our lives?
Lord, remind me often to put You where You deserve to be, not behind other things, but at the preeminent place in my life. May You be second to nothing else!
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