I’m a bit of a self-confessed radio freak. Love radio. Always have. Queen’s song “Radio Ga Ga” resonates, “I’d sit alone and watch your light, My only friend through teenage nights, And everything I had to know, I heard it on my radio.”
My car radio stopped working two months ago. It’s been a trying time. Podcasts are great, and live streaming more or less fits into my monthly tariff, but it’s not the same. Yes, I took the radio out, checked the power, the cables and the aerial. No joy. I’ve been putting off finding a remedy for the simple reason that I assume the fix will be expensive. Finally I could stand it no more. I heid me off to “Impulse Sounds” in North Watford today.
The beard behind the counter (and what a beard!) seemed reluctant to take my money and suggested I try checking some settings on the radio menu. “I’ll try it”, I thought, but without much hope. Five minutes later I was back in the shop thanking the beard profusely and giving him a bottle of my home-brew lager I happened to have in the boot. Radio restored. DAB delight. I drove off with disproportionate joy. The moral of the story (apart from if you have a car stereo problem go to Impulse Sounds) is the value of going to the right source for answers. I assumed the solution would be complex and expensive, but someone with superior specialist knowledge was able to deliver me.
I might not be alone in making the Christian life more complex than it needs to be. It’s easy to forget that God has all the answers I’ll ever need (and more). He might not give me all the answers I want, but that’s his prerogative. For example, Paul writes this to Timothy, “…from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15) Salvation is found through the scriptures, not through my ideas or anyone else’s. Not through traditions or the writings of learned men (helpful as they can be at times). And there’s more, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV11) Not only salvation, but the rest of the Christian life is provided for.
When I’m tempted to take my eyes off the Bible ball, I’ll have a think about Impulse Sounds and ask God, through His word, for the wisdom I need. How’s your devotion to the Word at the moment? Is it getting pride of place as your prime source of wisdom and strength? Let’s follow the beard, and keep it simple.
Malcolm
