Have you ever had a slow leak in your tire? One of the hazards of driving around after a hurricane and the construction required afterward is the presence of so many nails and screws on the road. Recently I happened to notice the low-tire indicator light on my dashboard was lit up. I tried to ignore it, but I ended up having to air up the tire every week. Eventually it went completely flat, and I had to get the screw removed and the tire repaired.
My incident with the screw in my tire serves as a reminder that any of us can acquire a slow leak. This slow leak doesn’t have to do with the air pressure in our tire. It is all about the danger of losing our spiritual vitality. Nails and screws remind me of all the things that can cause us to have a slow leak. The Bible warns us of this danger in Heb. 12:1: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”. This verse warns us about the danger of distracting weights, and ensnaring sins. They can become like nails and screws in our spiritual life. Weights are anything that slows down our forward progress for the Lord. It could be an unhealthy relationship, a distracting pleasure, or preoccupation with acquiring money. Sin causes slow leaks in our life also. We may try to ignore it, but we will not go very far unless we admit and confess that sin. I am so glad we don’t have to travel very far for our spiritual repairs. We can go directly to the throne of grace and confess to our Lord our sins and He will forgive us, cleanse us, and restore us to usefulness.
Do you hear the hiss from a spiritual slow leak in your life? Slow leaks are dangerous. Don’t ignore them. Take them to our precious Lord. He will remove the sin and repair us with His grace.