Check Engine Light: A Devotional from Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA

Check Engine Light – A Spiritual Warning

Last week, Annette and I were traveling out of town to a doctor’s appointment for our youngest daughter. Halfway through the trip, our two-and-a-half-year-old trusted Jeep made a dinging noise out of the blue. As I looked around trying to figure out what it was, I saw it—the dreaded check engine light! That small orange symbol of a motor on the console.

An Unexpected Warning Sign

I immediately began searching for signs of what might be wrong, making sure it was safe to continue driving. Everything seemed fine, and I didn’t notice any changes in how the Jeep handled or ran. So, we continued our journey and arrived safely at our destination and back home. Thank God! We even drove it the entire week without issues.

However, something unexpected happened. One of our favorite features—the remote start and cold weather package—stopped working! In the middle of winter, this became a major inconvenience. Keep in mind, our Jeep is fairly new, with low mileage (under 30k). We shouldn’t be experiencing problems already, right?

What Happens When We Ignore the Warning?

This experience reminded me of our daily lives and our relationship with Jesus. Especially when we’re new to faith and church life—everything feels fresh, reliable, and exciting. Then, suddenly, the check engine light comes on.

We look around and think, Everything seems okay. I don’t feel any different. What’s going on, Jesus? But He is gently reminding us, Yes, you can keep going, but there are things we need to work on and repair.

Often, we ignore these spiritual warning signs because they don’t seem urgent. Maybe certain conveniences in our faith walk stop working—prayer feels dull, joy fades, or our connection with others weakens. We manage, work around it, and press on. But if we continue ignoring the issue, we might find ourselves completely broken down—stranded and unable to move forward in our faith.

Jesus—Our Lifetime Warranty

This week, I finally scheduled a service appointment for our Jeep. Thankfully, it’s still under warranty, so it shouldn’t cost me anything—just a little time.

The good news is, we too are under warranty! Jesus is our lifetime warranty, and it never expires! The key is to pay attention to the warning signs and address them before they escalate. And just like we need experienced mechanics with the right tools, we need wise counsel—mentors, pastors, and fellow believers—to help us get back on track.

God never intended for us to struggle alone. He calls us to trust Him when the warning light appears. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

So, let’s deal with the check engine light today and get back to enjoying the full blessing of our spiritual “remote start.”

😎 Stay blessed and in Him always,
Pastor Rich

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