Are You Operating in Neutral?

Reflection 

Growing up, we had a VW bug with standard transmission, which meant I learned to drive using a stick shift. I can remember sitting in the driver’s seat without a key and practicing moving the stick from first to second to third to fourth and then the tricky reverse, which required simultaneously pushing down and moving it to a new and awkward position. With each practice, I learned how to engage the clutch - essentially putting the car in neutral - before switching gears. So I understood the impact of the neutral position - motor still engaged but no power going to the wheels. (If you are a mechanic reading this or very knowledgeable about cars, forgive any oversimplification!) This background information on the basics of standard transmission leads me to an early Saturday morning in high school.

I worked part time at a bakery over the summer and during the school year. After mastering the front counter, I was taught how to make some basic recipes in the mixer. One of these was the white icing that was used for danishes and sweet breads. 

After little sleep on a Friday night, I arrived at the bakery to begin prep for the day. I started the icing recipe, which meant huge quantities of confectionary sugar along with the other ingredients in the steel bowl. As the thick steel blade mixed the ingredients, I knew that I needed to pause the mixing to scrape the side of the industrial bowl so that the ingredients would be incorporated, smooth, and there would be no waste. I grabbed the hard plastic scraper, turned the handle on the mixer, and began to scrape the sides of the bowl. What I didn’t realize was that I had placed the motor in neutral instead of making it stop. The thick paddle blade had momentum and rolled over the top of my right hand. The blade was slowing down without power, but it didn’t stop till it crushed my hand. 

Application

In Revelation, John, the writer of the gospel of John, was exiled on the island of Patmos and received vision from Christ. He writes letters to various churches, based on the visions given to him. In Chapter 3, we read the letter to the Church in Laodicea. We read the convicting message to this church and to us in verses 15 and 16:

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either 

one or the other! So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold – I am 

about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Lukewarm coffee. Lukewarm tea. Lukewarm reception when one enters a space. The lukewarm or neutral position is lackluster and without passion. It has no distinction and no energy. But like that steel blade of the mixer, it can still cause damage. It can still have movement, but it moves in the direction of least resistance till it slows to a stop. 

The Creator of the universe desires a relationship with His creation. God so loved the world that He gave His only son. Lukewarm is not an option. Serving and following Jesus in neutral is neither hot nor cold. God wants our attention. God wants all of us. A neutral posture and neutral effort is lukewarm and produces no fruit. The neutral position with no energy, causes a slow drift to a stop . . . worthy of discipline and being spit out!

Closing/conclusion

Where in our lives might we be content with neutral - not exerting effort, not growing, not moving forward? Let us not be content with just enough or a vow to “get to it later.” Instead, ask God to renew the fire of your relationship with Him. Choose action - now. He gave us everything. Neutral is not an option.

~Maryellen Berry