Like Peddling An Electric Bike

“That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” (2Ti 1:14 AV)

 

I believe that in context, the good thing to which Paul is referring is either the ministry of which Timothy has been entrusted or the gifts of which he received that he might discharge his calling.  However, the good thing could be applied to any blessing that the LORD has given by which we might know Him, serve Him, and be blessed in this life.  What is important is how the good thing is kept.  We underestimate and underutilize the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  His ministry, no matter how effective it might be, is often unnoticed.  There is a reason for this.  His role in the Godhead is to point attention to the Son and the Father.  This puts Him in the background.  He is not the one we worship.  We worship and commune with the Father and the Son.  This results in an out-of-sight, out-of-mind sort of relationship.  The nature of His relationship to us means we are tempted to accomplish life on our own.  Including that which God has called us to do.  Living a life worthy of being a child of God cannot be done without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, He does so without being sought as that power that makes living for Jesus possible.  If we are to keep that which has been committed to our trust, it must be by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within the saint.

I don’t know about where you live, but electric bikes are all the rage.  There seems to be a large range of options as far as peddling and power go.  Some throttles are operated automatically.  Some models allow the rider to set the speed and either accomplish that speed purely by peddling, assisted peddling with power, or full-on electronic mode.  You can tell an electronic bike by the amount of peddling the rider is doing compared to how fast he or she might be moving.  It seems some models will allow the peddling of the rider to charge the battery as well.  No matter how much the peddler peddles, however, the battery can never be fully charged without an outside source.  I think there is a scientific principle at play here.  At any rate, the rider may be under the impression his peddling is sufficient to more than make up for the charge he might use.  Given enough time and distance, this would be apparently false.  No matter how much force or energy he can input into the battery, the battery will always expend more energy.  Eventually, no matter how far or long the peddler peddles, he will eventually be on his own.

This is how we approach our Christian walk.  We can easily assume we are assisting the Holy Spirit but not nearly as dependent upon Him as we truly are.  We strive to live separated lives, to serve Him as best we can, and take joy in the blessings which He bestows all in our own strength.  We prepare our Sunday school lessons, parent our children, and live by the testimony of the word of God before our fellow employees all in the flesh.  We peddle our bikes thinking that our efforts will result in souls coming to Christ.  We unplug the battery thinking the grade isn’t too steep and we can climb the mountain of temptation claiming victory over our sin.  The good thing God has given must be maintained by the one who gave it.  To purchase a $2500 bike that runs on electricity and unplugging the battery makes no sense.  But this is what we do and we wonder why we run on empty.  Paul is instructing his student to utilize the gift of the Holy Spirit as the means to be what God wants him to be and do what God wants him to do.  It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that enables the saint to live as God intended with all the blessings associated with living that way.  To unplug the battery and think we can peddle our way to the goal is foolish and shortsighted.  Tap into and rely on the Holy Spirit.  It is the only way.