The Manual

     I can’t speak for everybody, but having spent almost thirty years in the automobile industry, I’ve come to realize that when most people purchase a new vehicle one item they always want to receive is the owner’s manual.  This is a publication which explains all the operating systems of the vehicle.  It describes for you how everything is suppose to operate and it explains the necessary maintenance required to keep the vehicle running in its tip top state of condition.

     This is not a unique situation to the automobile industry.  Practically every product manufactured comes with an operation or owner’s manual.  People want to know how to keep their purchases in “like new” condition for as long as they can.  And considering most of these products come with some type of warranty one is expected to follow the maintenance requirements to keep the warranty validated.  If you misuse the product, don’t keep it properly maintained, or fail to follow all the required actions, your warranty will be void or perhaps worse, your product will cease to function at all.

     Why am I discussing owner’s manuals and warranties on products?  Because in the beginning of creation when the first humans, Adam and Eve, were on the planet they were given oral instructions on how they should live their lives and obey the requirements that were placed upon them by God.  Of course, we know they failed in their properly using their “products”, their lives, the way which was intended for them.  They lost perfection not only for themselves but for all their descendents after them.

     That’s why we find ourselves in the sad predicament that we are in today.  Not only did our first parents fail to follow the instructions they were given, but many today continue to abuse the precious property that we were given, our lives.  It simply comes down to the fact that many people today are not following the instructions, the owner’s manual, that we have available to us.

     As sad as the conditions appear today, the manual offers us a wonderful hope for the future:  A future were we can be “upgraded” to a new and improved model of our old selves.  We only have to follow the instructions within that manual to gain those marvelous benefits.  The choice to obey or not belongs to each one of us.  What will you do?          

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"To obey is better

than a sacrifice."

1 Samuel 15:22