Many cities have elevated curbs running along the sides of each street. Not only do these curbs serve to delineate where cars may drive and where they may not, the elevated concrete also provides a boundary for rainwater runoff during heavy storms.
There is yet another good use to which these curbs have been put. When we dial 9-1-1, emergency rescue teams have to find our location quickly and without mistake. To help them in that, we paint our curbs with reflective paint that will show up boldly in the sun and stand out in the glare of headlights at night.
We want to be found.
However, the paint is only paint, and weather will wear it away. On a regular basis, we have to repaint the curb, or the emergency rescue teams will pass us by. The same is true for the Christian. Failing to repaint our curbs is analogous to letting our relationship with our Christian brothers and the Lord above fade. When our relationship becomes no longer visible, if a disaster comes our way, then we have no way to get the help we need to avert the pending calamity.
The book of Romans addresses our peeling paint and the need to make our curbs shine brightly for the Lord. Let’s look at three relevant passages in Romans:
Romans 14:1-3 tells us to help paint the curbs of those who are weak in their faith in the cross.
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.”
Romans 12:1 encourages us to make sure our own curbs are painted as well.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Romans 6:23 gives us all the reason we need to keep our curbs maintained with care. It is the same as with the concrete curbs at the end of our sidewalks. If we do not maintain them, we face the gravity of an ending that is too horrid to contemplate.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
When we keep our paint in tiptop condition, our curbs will be the beacon that draws help unto us. We cannot afford to ignore our relationship with our fellow Christians and with our God.
Our well-defined relationship with God is what allows him to find us in our need.
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