Sunday’s Blessing – 09/27/2026 – Thermostat or Engine?
One of the least expensive parts in a car engine is the thermostat. An engine needs to be hot in order to run efficiently. However, if it gets too hot it will cause parts to warp and fail; complete engine failure. A thermostat costs about $15.00, if you can install it yourself. If not, it may cost an additional $100 - $200 based on make and model. On the other hand, a new engine runs about $2,500+, if you can install it yourself. If not, it may cost an additional $3,000 - $5,000. That’s a big difference!
What does this have to do with blessing? This same principle applies to your spiritual life. You control the temperature of your spiritual life. The thermostat is designed to open and close to maintain optimum operating temperature for the engine. If it gets stuck open, the engine runs too cool. If it gets stuck closed, the engine overheats causing potentially fatal damage. In similar fashion, the life of the Spirit has two settings.
Craig Hill gave this illustration. The soul of man has two doors. One door opens to the Spirit of God, the other opens to the flesh. Only one door can be open at any given time. When you are operating in the flesh you cannot hear what the Spirit is saying. When you are open to the Spirit, the flesh has no control over you. Opening the door to the flesh is like running your engine with a bad thermostat. It will never end well. At the very least you will run inefficiently; worst case is total engine failure. Either way, you lose.
However, when you open the door to the Spirit, you will operate at peak efficiency. Following the leading of the Spirit, your paths will be illuminated so you can place your foot firmly in the direction you need to travel to walk in the purpose God placed within you. When you live your purpose, you are living the “abundant life” God intended. This should be the life of the Christian. Keep the door to the Spirit open and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
So, the question asked in the title of the article is “Thermostat or Engine”? Which are you willing replace? Replacing the thermostat opening the door to the Spirit. It does cost you something. Actually, it costs you everything. You have to give up your life, but in giving it up, you save it! If you choose the engine, you lose EVERYTHING. You lose the wonderful life you could have, being led by the Spirit. You also lose your life forever.
You have the choice which door is open. How you decide will make all the difference.
