When I was a youngster, I remember playing in the playground set up for kids in the center of a housing complex called Crystal Court, right outside Granddaddy’s house. If you are my age, or even if your were a child who was taken to a public park in the 1970’s, you probably spent some time on a similar park carousel. You see, back in those days, kids actually played outside.
According to Wikipedia, park carousels, were also called merry‑go‑rounds or roundabouts. They were typically flat, circular platforms about 6–10 feet in diameter, with metal or wooden bars for handholds. On Crystal Court, and at many of the parks I took my children when they were kids, they were not powered by a motorized turntable, but they were powered the “lucky” boy or girl who was designated to be the one who pushed the carousel around. Sometimes the child or adult doing the pushing was considerate and did not try to keep escalating the speed. However, there were times when the person doing the pushing felt they had a sense of power and they would use all their strength to increase the speed at which the carousel turned. When that happened, there were kids who felt the faster the better, but there were also kids who became terrified, nauseous, and they pleaded with the person doing the pushing to stop and let the carousel come to a stop so they could get off. I was one of the latter kids.
Well, that was when we were children, but guess what? We found out that we have other types of carousels that we would have to face. They are called the carousels of life. As with the playground carousel, the carousel at life, propelled by persistent, strong, non-relenting circumstances that make us beg, even pray, so the one we are on will stop; stop, so we can be done with tumultuous situations. What type of tumultuous situations? How about relationship issues or the remaining trauma from a failed relationship or repeated failed relationships? How about layoffs, shutdowns, and the economic perils it causes? How about that one temptation that faces you and you don’t think there is a way out of it. To think that is not biblical. God will provide you with the way out. Nevertheless, in that latter case, instead to turning to God, many people turn to a worn-out statement, trying to justify giving in to the temptation and sanctioning it, regretfully, as “my only weakness.”
I have good news for you this morning! Any time you want to get off any carousel of life, you just need to do what my Pastor preached on this past Sunday. Pastor M.R. King, Senior Pastor of Salt Of The Earth Church (Indianapolis) pointed to transformation as the key in the message God sent through him, “Still Being Transformed.”. Listen to his message! It can be found on the church’s Facebook page or website. As he pointed out, transformation will start on the inside and bring about God-approved results on the outside. He emphasized: (1) Transformation Requires Surrendering (A reasonable response!), (2) Transformation Requires God’s Word (Note that it takes more than a moment of inspiration!) And (3) Transformation Produces Purpose (Don’t get stuck looking at where you are at but look where God wants you to go!) As a side note, Pastor stated, “Being transformed does not stop.” Unlike the playground carousel, which eventually came to a stop, transformation never stops! Stay in the word! By doing so, you will not get stuck on any of the carousels of life.
Guess what? This was your Sunday Share! If you are on one of those carousels of life, now you know how to get off of that ride you that you no longer want to be on. Meditate on these thoughts. Check out Pastor’s whole sermon! Smile! Be blessed!
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
That is a great question related to the carousels of life, “How do I get off?” There are so many obstacles we face every single day, no matter how small. Without the word of God to rely on, that process will seem unattainable.
Teach in your response Dr. King! Point us to the word to help us get off the carousels of life! Thanks for your response! Be blessed!