Corrosion

Did you know that corrosion keep the electric current from flowing through the wires?

I recently tried my hand at some electrical work. The light bulb underneath my microwave burnt. I thought it would be an easy fix. I went to change the light bulb, but noticed that it had corroded into its socket. I had to get pliers and pull it out forcefully.

I had a feeling that wasn’t a good thing, but I did it. In the process, I saw something explode and burn. Don’t ask me what happened. I don’t even have the verbal tools to explain it. But I figured it was bad.

When I bought the new light bulb and replaced it in the socket, no light appeared. I wasn’t that surprised on account of the little explosion, but I got to work trying to figure out the cause of the breakdown.

Here’s the truth: you shouldn’t let a carpenter take your appendix out, and you shouldn’t let a doctor fix the electric on the microwave. But I like challenges, so I kept unscrewing and pulling, until the whole bottom of the microwave was open. I then pulled out the necessary wires to replace.

Then I went on a mission. The first big hardware store looked at me like I was nuts. Maybe they were on to something. Couldn’t find the part anyway, so I quickly left.

I remembered that my friend Bob can fix just about anything. I took the part to him and asked him to check it. He got his current meter out and started checking. First step, check the light bulbs. No problem. They were working. Next, he checked the wires connecting to the light bulbs – check. Current was freely flowing. Lastly, he went to the cursed socket itself. The first one ran the current without difficulty.

The second one didn’t. Aha! The problem was diagnosed, now all we needed was a solution.

Then Bob did something very interesting. He took out a small screw driver and started scratching the corrosion off the inside of the socket. A few minutes later, he tried to run the electric current through one more time, and sure enough, it ran!!

Corrosion keeps the current from flowing through a light source, Bob said.

I’ve been thinking about corrosion. It accumulates over time. It accumulates little by little. Eventually, it just stops running the necessary current through to its light source. And the only way to get rid of it is to literally scrape it off.

Sin is the corrosion in the Christian’s life that keeps God’s presence and spirit from flowing. Perhaps you cannot sense God’s presence in your life. Check your heart for corrosion. Check your life for built up sin. Then get on your knees and ask the Lord to scrape off that built up crud.

It’s the only way for your light to shine.

Related posts: