Time For a Shutdown, Restart, and Return to Default!

We all know what the “default” settings on a computer are, don’t we? At least we are pretty sure that no matter what we’ve done to mess things up, all we really need to do is shut the computer down and start it all over again. Something magical seems to happen when a computer returns to its default settings.

So do we humans have a “default” setting like a computer? Are there times we need to just shut things down and start over, and if so, could we?

I think the analogy of our need to get back to our “default” position might work with the Gospel, though in a backwards sort of way. Jesus said that “Broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are on it”. (Matt.7)

In many ways, we are messing things up before God, and if we continue on in the same direction without God’s intervention, we are headed for destruction. Despite our best efforts, we are guilty sinners, and being descendants of the first sinner, Adam, has all but guaranteed that guilt and condemnation will be our default setting.

A man at Home Depot named Saji, not particularly religious, seemed to understand this. He knew that despite the good things we do, we are still guilty of breaking God’s moral laws in many ways. He also agreed that the “good” we do is only that which God rightfully expects of us. It’s what it means to be fully human the way God originally made us. Before Adam’s fall into sin, being innocent and good and in a right relationship with God was our original “default” position as humans.

This stands in contrast to what many people think of as being human. Rebelling against God’s moral law is part of our nature, they think, so when we do some sort of good we are doing God a favor that can outweigh the bad we’ve done. Some even believe that just one hour spent in church on a Sunday morning allows them to live however they want the rest of the week, which was one of Saji’s main complaints against churchgoers.

But Jesus’ “broad road to destruction” analogy didn’t end there. He went on to say “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jesus gives the hope of a new destination, but the problem is that most people have no idea that the road they are on is headed in the wrong direction. They can’t see the narrow path because it isn’t in front of them, and the wide road provides many distractions along the way.

No, the narrow road to life is actually behind us, and the way to get on it is the way of repentance, which requires an "about-face" away from our sin. Like a computer they must turn and shutdown from a life of living for oneself and restart toward a new default of living for God.

The new creation we can become in Christ is entirely a work of God, but he calls us to participate through repentance and faith: “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” We’ve messed up beyond all hope of redemption on our own, but with God a shutdown, a restart, and a return to our original default settings IS possible!