Pump It Up!

For the final 2 years of seminary, I worked for my father-in-law's septic contracting company. This experience was nothing short of interesting! Most of our jobs were installing new septic systems at homes that were in the final stages of construction. These jobs were not too bad! I enjoyed learning the whole process of the septic systems - they are actually much more detailed than you would think! The new construction jobs were relatively enjoyable; the service calls on existing systems, were not. For the obvious reasons. Yuck.

When the call would come in that someone's septic system was backed up into their house, you can pretty much guarantee that you are heading into hostile territory. No one takes a backed up septic too well. So, we would arrive and try to diagnose the problem, and most of the time, probably more often than not, the problem was with the pump. Septic systems have a pump that moves the, shall we say, 'septic material', from the tank out to the drainfield. If the pump is not working, no 'septic material' is going anywhere, and the drainfield is dry. Thus, it comes back into your house. Yuck.

Now, I can pretty much guess what you are thinking at this point. You are wondering how we are going to go from 'septic material' and drainfields, to getting to a devotional thought for the day. I am starting to wonder that too, but I have a plan in motion, no worries!

You see, pumps in septic tanks have a job to do: they disperse 'septic material' out to a drainfield where it makes some of the greenest grass you can imagine! If it's not working right, you have a major problem on your hands (well, a major problem on your bathroom floor, actually).

If you are a Christian, you have a job to do: you are disperse the good news of the gospel out to a mission field of people who don't know the Savior, where those fields are white unto harvest! If you aren't working right, you have a major problem on your hands (well, a major problem in your heart, actually).

I fear that way too many of us have weak gospel pumps, and may need to call the repairman to come and evaluate our focus. Thankfully, changing out a pump isn't too difficult, even in the midst of a stinky septic tank, and it's even easier to change you spiritual pump. You don't even have to get your hands dirty! All that is required is a recognition of the need to change, and the motivation to do something about it. Here's your motivation: When Christ died on the cross, he took our punishment upon Himself. He died, was buried, and rose again in demonstration of His power of sin and death. Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so God is making all things new! Including your pump.

Set the pump setting to 'high' today and outflow your love to someone who needs it. Let someone benefit from your high performance pump and share that good news with someone!