I know that title sounds pretty crazy but let me explain: It all started when my 3 year old daughter decided to play monkey bars on our toilet. That, of course, snapped the handle into and it was completely unfixable. (Duct tape was not an option) This meant that I had to make a quick trip to ACE Hardware for a fast replacement. (We live 30 seconds from one) When I got back to the house with the new handle, I thought to myself, “This isn't rocket science.” As you may know, there is instructions on the box for a help, but who needs instructions on a project this simple?!? I knew this was not going to be a hard project. I mean really, how hard could it be to unscrew the old handle and replace it with a new one?
After I got the old one off, I started to place the new one on. Everything was going great up unto the point of screwing on the nut. I was turing it left and it just wasn't connecting. I even remember telling myself, “Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty.” Yeah, that little rhyme didn't help. I must be honest, I was getting pretty frustrated with myself and began to think that rocket science had something to do with toilet handles. I then did what must guys would do in that situation, I started to read the instructions. After reading them I realized I had been doing it correctly, but it still wasn't working. I then had an idea, “What if I try turning it the other way?” Guess what? IT WORKED! I was a hero to my kids. For some reason they thought that was the coolest thing for daddy to be able to fix that.
I got to thinking about why I was having so much trouble with connecting the handle together. Then I remembered, I was facing the handle from the back side and needed to turn the nut backwards in order for it to work. You see, if I was facing it the right way everything would have worked perfectly. There was nothing wrong with the instructions or me knowing how to fix it, what was wrong was my position. How often do we, as Christians, know what to do, read the instructions (God’s Word) and still find ourselves frustrated and wondering if we are even capable of doing something for the Lord, when the whole time we are not in right standing with the Lord. A very familiar Scripture we hear more and more today is 2 Chronicles 7:14. It says, “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
The first part of that says, “If MY people, which are called by MY name,” This is talking about Christians. Those that are blood bought, saved, children of God. Those who have been to church, those who know the hymns, those who tithed and give love offerings. “MY people.” Those who know the instructions and where to find them. Yet, we find ourselves frustrated and wondering where is our help? BUT the whole time God is trying to tell us, “You are looking at this from the wrong position.”
Another verse that is commonly used in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Again, there is something to be said about this verse and also 2 Chronicles 7:14: what is the first word in both verses? “IF.” I-F. “If my people,” “If we confess.” This means that we must make sure we are following the instructions correctly from the right position.
We must first humble ourselves. This means that we are telling the Lord, I cant do this without YOU, Lord. I realized after the toilet handle installment, that I try and do quite a bit on my own. That’s not showing much humility. Secondly, we are to pray. Praying can be many things, but one of the things prayer can be is asking for help. Too many times in my own life I neglect to pray for help from the One who is “closer than a brother.” I could imagine the Lord sitting in Heaven watching us make a mess of things and the whole time He is just saying, “Call on Me child,” The third thing we must do goes along with 1 John 1:9, we must REPENT. Repentance is a change of mind or direction. We must turn from our way of thinking and ask the Lord for forgiveness and guidance.
I wonder how many times in my own life I made such a mess of things because I “thought” I knew what to do? How many times I “read the instructions” but never truly understood what to do. Maybe that is why the Scriptures say to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It became pretty evident in my own life that I need the Lord more now than I ever did. I need the Lord to revive me! Do you need revival? Maybe you have realized that you have been going about your Christian life the wrong way. Maybe you have realized you are in the wrong position. If that is you, as it is for me, we must start on our knees. Remember, “humble themselves.”
I must admit, I never would have imagined the Lord using a toilet handle to show me just how much I needed revival. Although, the more I think about it, He did use a donkey to get Balaam’s attention and He used a whale to revive Jonah. I guess I should be happy He didn't prepare a whale to swallow me or have Mr. Ed knocking on my door. I would hope that this post has given you some sense of reflection and encouragement. I know it has in my own life. Every time I go in that bathroom now, I think of that handle and it reminds me about my need for revival. I know that sounds kinda crazy, but I want to thank the Lord for giving me those few moments to show me my need for revival.
“Revive us again,
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.”
