Old school

Personal Photo: Here is Clay with his brand new old truck! If this truck could talk...

A couple weeks ago, Clay stopped to look at an old Ford truck that my parents had noticed on the side of the road. Clay has always wanted to fix up a truck and this was nothing short of a golden opportunity. The man who was selling it was very kind, and told a little bit of background on the 1993 F-250. He mentioned that the farmer who originally owned the truck called the vehicle Ol' Blue, and used it around the farm to make the jobs easier. After a little bit of thought, we decided that Ol' Blue was going to reside with us. It just needed someone to fix it up and Clay was just the person for the job. Clay has spent the whole week under the hood, working on fixing some of the basics on the truck and giving some new life to something that has been around for longer than we have been alive. While he has been outside, I have been in the kitchen, getting supper ready for us and having quite a bit of time to think.

I am what most people would call an 'old soul' and have really come to love anything with a story. Visiting antique shops means that I get to go on treasure hunts, and cleaning up and loving something that time has left behind gives such great peace to my soul. It feels like a responsibility of mine to give attention to something so many people wouldn't find value in. I tend to avoid television, unless I turn it on to immerse myself in some old TV shows, ones that I now own and play on my DVD player. And my favorite media: music. I grew up on old school, classic country music, and while the radio might highlight some gems from today's artists, I find it difficult to beat most of the songs that came out in the '90s. As I have grown, I have been discovering different eras of music, including '70s hits, and some classic jazz and pop songs that have long faded into the background. I finally got my record player set up in our bedroom and have been pulling out Nat King Cole records that my dad passed down from my grandma, before settling down for the night. I love being outside, taking a break from my phone, and enjoying the pastimes that the majority of our culture never indulges in.

With this, often I find myself completely aloof when it comes to movie references, Netflix shows, new pop music, news stories, and more. Just like Ol' Blue, I can feel a little rusty when it comes to trying to fit in with the hustle and bustle of this shiny world. Not fitting in is a challenge, but accepting that challenge and coming to peace with not being part of the 'in-crowd' comes with such a beautiful sense of individualism. When we are completely at peace with the type of person we are, we have little room for jealousy, fear of missing out, and insecurity around our preferences. I have grown so much, and come so far from the person who just wanted to be noticed in High School, the person trying so hard to fit in. I think believers have a similar walk in life. What I mean by this is that so many people use the excuse (or the argument) that the Bible is just outdated, or that God doesn't understand. They say that it is too 'traditional' to believe in the commandments from the Bible, that it is 'uncool' or 'inapplicable' nowadays to believe and to have faith. College professors, High School teachers, work mentors and coworkers, friends, and many of the exact people who really do 'fit in' can be the very ones that work to distance us from Christ, to tempt us into believing the lie that Jesus is too old school to hang out with and find companionship in.

When we consider all the places in which we encounter modernity, and are encouraged to abandon traditions from the past and commandments from another era, it can be a bit overwhelming. It can be challenging to recognize what comes from the world as as a potential roadblock in our spiritual growth. It reminds me of Romans 12:2 which reads "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." This verse is so powerful when we live in a culture that consistently calls us away from the simple, from the peaceful, from the direct instructions given to us in the Bible. The word 'traditional' has come to adopt a derogatory meaning, however, I choose to take it as a compliment. Being traditional by today's standards often just means that we have chosen to hold onto the values that have proven themselves worthy, that have held steady throughout the generations. It means that we have roots that run deep, that we believe in something that came before us, that we will not abandon something simply because of its age. These are all admirable qualities, all things that I strive to represent.

When it comes to believing in God, the Bible is very clear that God's word is alive and well, as we can see in Psalm 119:89, when we are told "Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens." Forever. Forever is not bound by time or space, let alone culture and trends. Forever is eternal, it is boundless. We are directly told that God is everlasting, His word is strong and solidified, meaning that when we build our lives upon that firm foundation, we are rewarded with peace, we are set aside from the world, and we are building a life that also withstands the test of time. Additionally, this verse is in the present tense. It does not say 'was' or 'used to be.' No, God's word is still fixed in the heavens, it is current, ongoing, and just as strong today as it was the day that it was written.

When we consider if it is really necessary that we seek God out throughout our lives, we are encouraged by Matthew 4:4, which informs us that "But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” This verse seems to directly address the need for God in our lives, how we can ignore the temptations to leave Him behind for a shiny new trend, an expensive purchase, a lifestyle that will only lead to our own misery. This Matthew verse expresses that just as our body requires food to survive, we also need Christ to survive. Our souls need the Bible, need the Lord's guidance, need the redemption from Christ in order to live.

The word of the Lord is not meant to be confined to a decade, to a generation, to an era. Rather, God provided us with the Bible to be able to reference, to live by, to cling to regardless of the time in history we are put on earth. When we feel as though we just don't fit in, like a dinosaur being left behind and forgotten in this world, we can remember Proverbs 30:5, which states "Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." This verse not only recognizes the authenticity of the voice of God, but it also reminds us that when we strive to live by the standards of God, when we seek His guidance in the pages of the Bible, we are rewarded with peace. God protects us, provides for us, and helps us when we walk with Him. In this way, we can see how the word of the Lord is just as active and alive today as it was when the Bible was being penned.

I began this article talking about how the world often tries to convince us that God is just too old fashioned to align ourselves with, and how being old fashioned is so quickly judged and made a mockery of. Not only is the Bible entirely clear that God is current, He is in the present, and so is His word, but clinging to the traditional values of the Bible is pleasing to the Lord. Listening to Him, believing in Him, trusting in Him to never let us fall, never lead us astray, and never abandon us are all welcomed in the eyes of God. Let me be clear that this article is not at all discouraging innovation, but rather it is reminding us to look in the places that are often bustled by, to look beyond the worldly understanding of time to see the importance of listening to God's Word, and to simplify life when we need to find God the most. When we feel as though we cannot relate to our peers because we are aligning ourselves with the Bible, with our faith, with the values in which we are rooted within, we can remember that God looks at us like we are a treasure hiding amongst the chaos, and He is always ready to love us, clean us up, and make us brand new!