Have you ever looked at an example and everything seems so right so you followed it? Your eyes, senses and every fiber of your being made it seem right but you discover after a time that it was totally wrong.
I am working at a print shop. I run the digital copy. You have to set everything up on the computer that speaks to the digital machine and thus you make your product. It sounds easy but there are a lot of things you have to make sure you do right or it could turn out wrong.
One of the most important things is to read the jacket. Every job comes with what we call a jacket. Inside the jacket can be artwork or a sample of what the job is. But the most important information is on the outside of the jacket. It gives specific information. For example, what kind of paper to use, what size the paper should be, whether your printing black and white or color, or whether it is printed on one side of the paper or two sides, just to name a few.
The other day I got the jacket and scanned over it. I seen it was a spiral bound book. In the jacket was a sample so I pulled it out and look at it. I thought, “Great this is going to be an easy one because the pages are just one-sided.” I was in a rush to get gone because I had an appointment to go to. So I set it all up and started printing.
After it was done printing I had a question so I went to the guy that has been training me in and he looked at what I had failed to pay close attention to, the front of the jacket. The sample was a one-sided print but the instructions on the jacket was a two-sided print. I missed comparing the sample to the instructions.
I went to my boss about the mistake. Here I had printed several pages and it was wrong. When He looked at the jacket and the sample. He even had some confusion on what it needed to be. The jacket instructions seemed a little confusing. But after looking things over thoroughly and talking to the one that had put the job together I figured it out.
This reminds me of our Christian walk. We have an instruction book, the Bible. We need to be thoroughly studying the “jacket” (Word of God). We cannot go by what we see or hear.
In this world today there can be so many things that we can get caught up in. It can sound amazing and look amazing but is it really a true “sample” of truth.
There can be so many false things that are out there for us to get caught up in. Some of those things may be perfectly harmless in and of themselves. But is it keeping us from focusing on the things we really should be, the true directions for life (God’s Word).
It says in Matthew 24:24, “For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” We are in a time where we need to keep our focus on the study of the Word of God. So that we can be so grounded in the true information that we will not be thrown off by what we see or hear.
I don’t think we begin to realize how closely Satan can make things look so real and right that it is very deceiving. We cannot go by our senses. We have to go by the truth of God’s Word only.
I could have totally done the job correctly if I had just gone by the instructions written rather than looking at the sample. I would have been way farther ahead. If I had been thoroughly studied in the truth of the jacket I would not have been thrown off by the false of the sample.
In the same way if we stay focused on the truth of the Word of God we will not be thrown off by the counterfeits that come our way. But if we are spending our time focusing on the world and it’s counterfeits we are going to be unknowingly swept in to untruth, which can lead to final disaster. The devil doesn’t care what rabbit trail he gets us going down, just as long as we are not focused on what we should be.
I was grateful that my boss was so understanding. When we come to God and admit our mistakes, asking forgiveness He is so understanding as well.
Just like I needed to look at all the aspects of the jacket to know the truth, here a little there a little. The same is true of the Bible. We can’t make our decision based on one verse. We need to study it carefully, here a little and there a little.
I also could not have figured out the jacket unless I had gone to the one who had put it together. We are not going to understand what we study in the Bible unless we go to God asking for guidance. Then the Holy Spirit will come and enlighten our eyes. And those things that have seemed confusing will become clear.
Dear Father,
Help us to realize how important it is to stay focused on Your Word. Help us to realize the sensational things that we can get caught up in can lead us in a direction to take us off the focus we should have. Thank You for Your love and Your patience with us. Continue to guide us.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Keep in the Word, it is the safest place to be.
Love you all.
Have you experienced a “rabbit trail” in your life at times? What happened to help you get back on track? What do you do to try to stay on track?