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Recently I had some work done on my teeth. I had some of my old, silver fillings replaced with better material. Under one 30 year old filling, the dentist found tooth decay in the form of a cavity. Left unchecked, that tooth could have produced pain and other problems in my body.
In some ways a healthy spiritual life is like maintaining healthy teeth. (I had plenty of time to think as the dentist did his work.) Left unattended, teeth naturally become unhealthy. Teeth need regular attention as does our spiritual life. Regular Bible study, prayer and church attendance helps our walk with Christ in similar ways to brushing, flossing, and regular check-ups.
As a pastor I receive occasional calls of distress from those who have let their care of their soul slip. I can identify with the dentist who gets an emergency call from a person in pain. The pain could have been avoided by regular care of the soul.
The solution to a toothache is often very painful and may lead to permanent loss. Too many people have neglected their soul and lost their marriage, their family, or their reputation. Sometimes God in His mercy will even send trouble our way to get our attention. Without toothaches, our teeth would rot and fall apart. Pain is an indication of sickness that calls for change.
Another parallel between healthy teeth and healthy spirituality is that diet contributes to health or sickness. Feed a child heavy doses of sweet food and expect a long dentist visit. We like to talk about God blessing some with stronger teeth than others, but lifestyle choices are also a major factor.
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For our walk with Christ what we consume is also important for a healthy soul. A steady diet of the world's value system in what we read and watch has its influence. One of the challenges of being a pastor today is that it feels like the church is loosing the battle for influence over the life of the believer. Two hours or less on a Sunday seems like only a drop in the bucket compared to the hours of time the world has with the believer. Time in a secular work environment, time with the computer and TV, and time given to recreation is often much more than time in a Christian environment.
One of the keys to a healthy Christian life is taking time with God on a daily basis. Mark 1:35 says, "Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." If Jesus made time with his Father a priority, how much more do we need to take that time today.
Our church tradition has emphasized the truth that God can turn a life around. Jesus said that we must be born again in John 3 and we love to sing Amazing Grace about being lost, but now we are found. I fully believe the truth that God can turn a life around, but life experience also teaches me that daily brushing your teeth is better than a root canal. Don't ruin your life so God can save you. My prayer for each of us connected with Fort Lee Gospel Church is that we would develop and maintain good habits that lead to healthy teeth, and more importantly health in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
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