Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Oct. 28, 2011

“Knowing when to Change Course”
“…if you correct those who care about life, that's different—they'll love you for it…” – Proverbs 9:7(MSG)

There is no way—at least none that I am aware of to convey this message in a positive light that would make it seem appealing in any way or form. No one likes being corrected. We may say that we appreciate having our “errors” being pointed out to us. We may be grateful that as a result of our “correction” we are prevented from getting ourselves into a situation that could have proved harmful…but loving it? I don’t think so! But then I have to take a look at the first part of that verse and allow myself to forget my pride—resist the temptation to cross my arms, hold my breath and dig my feet in the ground and allow God to reach into my heart and say, “thank you Lord for loving me enough to send people my way and stop me from self-destructing.” Because I love life—and more specifically the “God-Life,” then I will accept any correction I might need. Harry Emerson Fosdick (an early 20th century clergyman) once said, “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” Emerson underscored two truths here. First, some things can be controlled by external forces—horses, steam engines, and giant rivers, for example. Each of these has intrinsic power, but when controlled by external forces, impressive results can be achieved. Race horses can be trained to run at amazing speeds in a one-and-and-eighth-mile race. Steam engines can generate incredible thrust when built into giant locomotives. And uncontrolled rivers can be forced through huge turbines that produce mega electrical power. Left to do their own thing, each of these would be mere footnotes in the pages of history. Second, Emerson said that in humans, internal controls are the only controls that last. External controls (by parents and others in authority) may be able to force certain types of behavior in children. But such behavioral modification will be short-lived. On the other hand, self-control learned through instruction and discipline will last. Emerson concluded, “No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” And those results come through instruction that is internally applied. We have been here before!! King Solomon understood this principle of life. “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22). Solomon was saying, “Embrace these truths—they will change your life!” Remember—the purpose of “correction” is not to harm but to help. The following is a great illustration of that! In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow." “Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out. The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship. The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'" Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees." The captain said, "Send: 'I'm a captain, change course twenty degrees.'" "I’m a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty degrees." By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: 'I'm a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'" Back came the flashing light, "I’m a lighthouse." We changed course. Is it time to change course yet?
Rev. J. T. Carnell