My Problem with Being Second

Just wanted to share a post that I read earlier today that convicted me of how I abandon the gospel so easily with such minor things. If you have the time, take a few minutes to read the article and hopefully it’ll help remind you of the gospel the next time you’re placed in situations such as these, whether that be while running, driving, waiting in line, etc.

Yesterday I was enjoying an afternoon run when I was introduced to an elementary-school student who instructed me in the gospel.

I was trekking along, making good time, and enjoying the first real warm day of the season. Up ahead I noticed three elementary school girls walking along the paved trail.

In my usual scan to see if adjustments were necessary I noticed that this group of parochial school students were not in the mood for good deeds. In fact, they seemed to fan out a bit when they saw me coming closer. They were intending to crowd me off the trail!

I’ll be honest, for a split-second I had thoughts of giving them an earful. After all, don’t they know anything about the rules of walking on trails? Not to mention the simple courtesy that should be shown to people older than them?

I was aggravated.

And, as you might expect, the more I thought about it the more aggravated I became. However, I was aggravated in a way you may not expect.

I was convicted. What was the big deal with moving over? Why couldn’t I just move over and think nothing less of it?

The short answer is I think I’m awesome. I think I’m a king. In effect, my anger, frustration, and irritation toward this young girl was rooted in the fact that I would not put myself second. In one sense, who cares that she wants to be first? My bigger issue is that I don’t want to be second. I want to win. I want my trail rights. I want what I deserve.

Do you see how I betrayed the gospel with this rubbish? What do I deserve? Certainly not the privilege of having legs that run, a heart that pumps blood, lungs that can breathe, eyes to see the scenery of spring, a nose to smell the fresh flowers, and a paved trail for me to run on. I deserve wrath for my sin. I deserve hell. My selfish, sinless inclinations are not neutral, they are violent, rebellious acts against the King of kings.

I hate how forgetful I get. I hate how I can go for a run and be listening to the Psalms in my ear but be humming the songs of self in my heart.

I look at this event as something that God providentially brought into my life to show me my shallowness and selfishness. Unbeknownst to her, this chubby, angry little girl, she was sent to me to show me my sin. She could have just as well carried a mirror to show me myself.

I think there are bushels of examples from our daily lives whereby we betray the gospel. I just want to identify them quicker and learn from them faster, while praising God for not leaving me alone.

ht: Erik Raymond