I finally got around to fixing it and I began thinking about the parallels between the wall I was repairing and life in the world around us.
A standard American interior house wall is composed of two basic parts: the studs (wood or aluminum 2" x 4" boards) and the sheetrock ("finished wall").You will typically find nothing but empty space between the studs, except for a firebreak or two.
The studs provide the support structure that holds the sheetrock and gives the wall stability. The sheetrock, on the other hand, merely gives the wall a finished look. It is only a facade of stability. Sheetrock is simply Gypsum pressed into sheets with a thick paper cover. It isn't the most sturdy of materials. It will support weight, but not much.
The sheetrock is a lot like the world around us. It represents the value system of an increasingly godless society. It is hollow at best. We sink screws into it trying to find something solid, but we hit nothing. While looking for something to attach ourselves to and derive our identity from, we end up feeling more detached than ever. Now we come to the anchors. They are designed to anchor objects (pictures, towel rods, etc.) into interior walls. Most are inserted into a hole in the sheetrock and expand as they are tightened. They are designed to support some weight, but they are limited by the material into which they are inserted.
These anchors represent our attempts to find security in relationships, money, the accumulation of stuff, the right job, our abilities, etc. They give us a false sense of security. These things can't possibly give us the support or security we so desperately require because they are rooted in an ever-changing world.
If only we could find a source of security that could support the weight of life and its troubles. Enter the studs (I'm not talking about horses or humans either!). When I was re-installing the towel rod, I made sure I screwed directly into a stud with large wood screws.
After I was finished, I thought of asking my son to come try it again (but I chickened out…). I made sure it would hold the weight of an over-eager little boy the next time.
What made the difference? I secured the towel rod to something solid. The studs gave me a stable point to build on. I believe the studs represent values and principles that aren't dependent on public opinion or changing moral and political climates; values that transcend the facade of this world. I mean, there have to be some truths that are fixed and stable, aren't there?
The answer is a resounding yes! God has woven certain principles into the fabric of life. Although unseen, they are just as much a part of the world around us as gravity. These principles can become foundational points of security in life; they are truths that can support the weight of life's problems.
These will help us to weather the storms of troubled relationships, job changes, health problems and the vast array of circumstances common to the human condition.
Here's the tough question: Where do you find these principles? When I was searching for studs in my bathroom wall, I used the miracle of modern technology. There's a neat toy in my toolbox called a "Stud Finder."
The Stud Finder locates studs in a finished wall. It beeps when you pass it across one. I was able to easily find where to secure the towel rod so I wouldn't ever have to reattach it again. If only it were that easy to find God's guiding principles.
It is! The Bible is God's Stud Finder! In it He has invested all the wisdom necessary to navigate life and locate His principles. I have made it a point to spend a decent amount of time everyday reading the Bible. I am searching daily for hidden treasure in it. I have learned the truth in the verse from 2 Timothy 3:16:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable…."
Please consider making a commitment to daily seek Him and His guiding principles, or to increase the amount of time you spend with Him daily. It'll change your life, and you'll be glad you did.
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