Few life experiences inspire rancor in me like a trip to the dentist. However, since I had a pretty impressive record of oral hygiene, I expected my recent visit to be uneventful. I was wrong…
It was a last minute appointment. I had been staying at my parent’s place over the Christmas break, and was preparing to drive back home when my mother reminded me of the visit. Since we had relocated from Canada, she thought we should find a dentist in the states. Although I had a four hour drive ahead, I decided to get it over with before I let the year slip by. Besides, my teeth had never given me any trouble, so why worry now? I took the opportunity to gloat to my brother, who had recently been diagnosed with seven cavities! How a guy could let his teeth degrade into that state of disregard I simply could not fathom.
With confidence encompassing me like a halo, I sauntered into the dentist’s office. “Hi there,” I said, flashing a pearly white smile, “I’m here for a quick checkup.” As they led me back to the patient’s chair, I figured I’d be out in 30 minutes and on the road. However, the longer they probed and scraped, the more worried I got. Three hours later came the give-away question: “So, do they have dentists up in Canada?” Oh, no. She wasn’t joking. After they showed me the x-rays, I understood why. “The areas I flagged in red are problems that need to be fixed.” I gulped as she pointed to my chart—it had more red flags than China! I had six cavities, a chipped tooth, weak bottom gums and I believe some sort of tongue disease she only mentioned in passing. As I slithered out of the office, only one thought comforted me: It could have been worse; I could have had seven cavities.
I was reminded that misplaced confidence can be exceedingly dangerous. Pride can sneak into my life undetected, and before long it takes over, giving me a skewed perception of who I really am. The Bible says, “The heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick—who can understand it? I, the Lord, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
In this age we are told “Just follow your heart,” but the Bible issues a serious warning. The heart is deceptive, and it lures many people into thinking they are making wise choices, when in fact they are headed for calamity. We look around us and point the finger at others, but never stop to examine the red flags in our own lives. God is not deceived; He deals with us according to our heart condition. (Galatians 6:7) When I feel distant from God or when I am tempted to judge other people, perhaps the problem is not where I think it is. Could it be that I am falsely confident and I need God to put things in perspective in my own life?
Mike Blackaby is 25 years old and is the college and young adult pastor at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, GA. Mike loves to play music, loves to snowboard, play hockey, and cheers for the Colorado Avalanche. He is terrified of spiders, but loves reading fantasy novels, watching movies, taking road trips, building camp fires, and will do any roller coaster if someone goes with him. You can contact him via Facebook.