Keys to the Kingdom
Around third or fourth grade, I was watching my Dad push mow the yard. I thought it looked like fun so I asked him if I could give it a try. He gave me some instructions and away I went. That was the beginning of my fun affair with a lawn mower. Fast forward to 2020, we purchased a 60” zero-turn Bad Boy mower. The only instructions the salesman gave me was, “Make sure it’s on full throttle when you engage the blades.” In fact, all the mowing, from start to finish is accomplished at full power — the speed of the mower varies, but the power of the engine is full on.
The definition of “full throttle” is holding nothing back, with great intensity, full speed, as much speed and energy as possible, the maximum setting on an engine, an all-out effort. That’s a pretty good definition of a true Christ follower. I’m not referring to burning the candle at both ends or running on fumes. We need to make sure we’re not overworked and under-joyed as we give God everything we’ve got. Crashing and burning accomplishes absolutely nothing for the Kingdom of God. But it does give the onlookers something to talk about. The goal is to love God and others and do His will in a balanced “all or nothing” lifestyle.
Believers can’t cut the grass or the mustard if we’re not living at full throttle for God. A compromising Christian who has one foot in the world and one foot in God’s Kingdom is simply going to bog down and wimp out. Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Because Jesus left the splendor of heaven, died on Calvary’s cross and rose triumphantly for us to have an abundant life through Him, the least we can do is give Him our all. Believers should be prepared to roll up their sleeves in their service for Christ. Let’s determine to be a powerhouse for God, not a playhouse.
God never cuts corners and Christians shouldn’t either. “Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23 WNT). God wants us to joyfully serve Him with our whole hearts; He’s not pleased with half-hearted effort. To half obey is to disobey. A yard that’s half mown still looks tacky. I think the following motto is superb: “Do your best and God will do the rest.” The Great God Jehovah won’t do what you can do, but He will sure do what you can’t do.
Before I hop on the mower, I always check the fuel gauge. Believers need to do a fuel check every day. Spending time with God, reading His Word, and communing with Him in prayer is what fills our spiritual gas tank which then enables us to do whatever comes our way that day. “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (Philippians 4:13 AMP). This amazing strength is inside believers and goes to work when the task before us is difficult. The time spent in filling the tank is never wasted because it enables us to reach way down within ourselves when the mowing gets tough. When life hands you an acre of tall grass, just mow at a slower speed, keep it at full throttle, and don’t stop until it’s finished.
The Key: Stay at full throttle, do your best, and you’ll finish your task.