Orderliness

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

About three years ago I had one of the most exhilarating and frightening months of my life. We had just purchased our new home, and one of the school families graciously brought over an excavator for my use. Our new home had no landscaping in the back yard, and it also had quite a steep grade (we joke we live on a cliff). I was thrilled when my “new toy” arrived, as my summer landscaping plans hinged on the execution of this delivery.  Oh, did I mention, that I had never driven one before!  

After what seemed a quick two-minute tutorial, my busy benefactor was on his way, leaving me to fend for myself. Inside the cab, I felt like I had the most complicated video game control at my hands, but the TV screen was replaced with reality. My wife’s prayer life grew exponentially that month. But was it fun!  And I only swung the excavator boom into my house once. And the sewer pipe I destroyed needed replacing anyway. But boy did I dig some holes and move some dirt.  

One main objective of the summer project was to build about 180 feet of retaining walls a total of ten feet high. I learned an important lesson that summer-gravity. Every hole or trench I dug for a special purpose would fall back on itself if I didn’t act fast enough. My intention was to remove loose soil and replace it with hard rock. Sometimes the latter state of my efforts would be worse than before I began.  

When Jesus arrived on the scene in Galilee he found a similar situation with the Pharisees. Many of them had worked hard to remove the loose soil of ungodliness from their lives that the neighboring nations demonstrated. But instead of replacing idolatry with faith and love, the Pharisees allowed pride and selfishness to rule. In his parable directed to the Pharisees, Jesus told of an unsaved soul who harbored an unclean spirit. When the unclean spirit left him, the man did not replace the void with the solid foundation which faith provides. The unclean Spirit returned with seven other unclean spirits and found that his old “home” was still available. The latter state of the man was worse than the first.

During the month of February, the school will be focusing on the character trait of orderliness. The ultimate purpose of having an orderly life is to plan a life that seeks to follow God’s plan. While we often find the need to have control over our lives, orderliness is less about control, and more about a plan. God is in control. He doesn’t need another “backseat driver.” He also doesn’t need pretend disciples, but the real thing. As students (and parents) consider how God wants us to reorder our lives this month, make sure part of your plan of subtraction includes the addition of the solid Rock of Jesus Christ.  

​
– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent