Most of what I write has to do with my faith – things that I am currently learning, different thoughts and ideas or encouragement that I want to share. Often when I sit down to write something there is a part of me that believes that what I am about to say is going to be revolutionary and life-transforming. As a writer there is always the desire to provide readers with something profound to chew on.
It is in human nature to long for the next best thing – the next best technology, the next best movie, the next best outfit, the next best team, the next best truth, and for most believers,followers of Christ, the next best revelation. With every next best thing that people wish to consume, they also wish to provide or create.
To be clear, I am not saying this is a bad thing in fact, in a lot of ways this kind of mindset is one of the main factors for any sort of growth in all areas of life. The temptation within this mindset is that in the pursuit of the next best thing, the absolute basics and foundations are overlooked and underdeveloped.
Recently, as in yesterday, I learned how to man a motorcycle, and apparently there are a few basic things to know before even turning the dang thing on and cruising through the back dirt roads of the mountains. For example, it is important to know how the motorcycle essentially works – where the brake is, the throttle, the clutch, the gear shift (or whatever it is called), and what gears are where. I have to admit; it was a lot more fun trying to figure it out as I went. Who needs directions? I am a man; therefore I can figure it out on my own, am I right? Contrary to what I hoped, I didn’t make it very far. It was fun for a while, in fact quite exhilarating, but eventually I needed to know the foundational basics of the bike in order to tackle hills and turns.
Same thing goes when learning how to play guitar. The greater the foundation built based on the basics of how to play the guitar, the better. And what about snowboarding or skiing for the first time or two? You would be an absolute fool to throw yourself on a double black diamond at the top of the mountain having no foundation built on the basics of shredding.
I feel like I am beating a dead horse (I have never understood that phrase) trying to get this point across. Ironic though, isn’t it? Because at the foundation of most things we ever do or attempt are basics – not always the most glamorous and exhilarating, but constantly repeated and revisited. Here in lies the issue. We get bored with foundational aspects of whatever it is we are doing, but basics are meant to be built upon and are foundational for a reason – without them, and a strong foundation within them there is nothing to ever build upon. The stronger the foundation in the basic aspects of whatever we are doing, the more it can be built upon.
I get frustrated with God sometimes (a lot of the time). By the way, it is okay to get frustrated with God – you won’t offend Him, I promise. You know how many dead horses God has beat in my journey and relationship with Him? Too many, and these horses have names too–guilt, shame, condemnation, insecurity, freedom, adoption, Gospel, grace, faith, prayer, fasting, thanksgiving, Holy Bible, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And he will keep beating these things as long as he needs to in order to see that I come closer and closer to knowing Him more and more.
God is in no rush, people, so stop trying to run ahead of Him because you will likely find yourself back to where He wants you. He cares enough and loves you enough to bring you back to the basics. Delight in the foundational basics of your faith because there you will find the richness and depths of His grace and mercy for you.
