My car was due for an oil change so I drove it to the same place where I had gone for several years. After all, they knew me and I trusted them and I’ve never had a problem. A few minutes later, the car was tasting some fresh oil and I was good to go for a while!
Except—something happened in the meantime. My wife received a text message telling her that my car had a flat tire. I was dumbfounded where or how that could have happened. Regardless, with a flat tire, it was a pretty lousy weekend! Sure, I could have gotten someone to put the spare or “donut” on the car but . . . . that isn’t always the best remedy. Even the owner’s manual tells you not to drive too fast or too far on that little wheel.
Monday finally came and I was able to contact the insurance provider. Shortly thereafter, a tow truck came by, the driver took off the flat and installed the donut. I was at least ready to drive a limited distance. Calling the tire shop, the manager told me he could take care of the repairs in a little while. I drove, I waited, and I rejoiced when the tire was fixed.
But what was unusual was the item that caused the flat tire! It was a “body shop screw”, to use the manager’s words, a flat head screw about 3/8 of an inch long (estimated) and the head was about a half-inch or so across. I wouldn’t have noticed it. The manager then jokingly told me that I must have been a “target of opportunity” for that little screw, one that caused an expensive automobile to be idled, useless actually, without a complete set of tires!
Little things can keep you and me from doing our best, wouldn’t you say? In the Christian life, it’s no secret that we have enemies who try to annoy us, harass us, and even fight against us. Peter told us that our enemy, the Devil. “. . . prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).”. No need to give him any advantage! Also, Paul in Hebrews 12:1 says “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Yes, it’s the little things that sometimes cause big problems. The big things we can see easily.
The little things? We may never see them coming but still, we even when they do come, we can overcome through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. http://www.lockman.org