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Are You Really Willing to Drink the Water?

So recently West Virginia had an issue with their water. Who knew that mixing chemicals in would make it dangerous to drink, right? It was a big issue, but one that people took seriously and, at least for most people, has been solved. I found this quote from an article that intrigued me. "West Virginia American Water president Jeff McIntyre reiterated on Monday that the water was safe, underscoring his point by drinking tap water in front of reporters." 

That, my friends, is applying truth to action. It also made me question my own ability to apply truth to life. Let me explain.

Recently, at a church potluck, the fun was followed by sickness. Now, as a germaphobe, don't even get me started on how the church is a breeding ground for illness anyway, with all the hand shaking and hugging and laying on of hands. As a pastor, I just trust that friendliness and spiritual practice is more important than the threat of getting ill. Plus, I assume either God is protecting me from getting ill more often or I'm building up a super-immunity because of my continual contact. (Yet another reason to go to church, hooray!)

As I was saying, the potluck was followed by reports from people that they got sick that day and the next day. Someone mentioned a particular dish and their assumption that food poisoning was the culprit. The particular dish they mentioned happened to be the very dish my wife had brought. The very dish to which there were leftovers in my fridge.

So now I was keenly interested and started investigating. Contacting all those who had experienced unpleasant trips to the bathroom, I started a survey. What did you eat at the potluck? Could you describe the consistency of what came back up? Are you sure it's not the flu?

I'm happy to report that the results revealed that my wife's dish was not the culprit. Some who did eat of it did not get sick. Others who did not eat of it were also among the ill. Food be clean!

But although my wife's cooking was redeemed, what i did next did not reflect any faith in the truth I had discovered. I threw out the leftovers. Yep, I tossed them, not in the same way others had tossed their lunch following the potluck. 

I told myself I was too busy to risk it. But the truth should have set me free. 

What did I really believe? If we say we believe something is true, our actions should reflect that. Jeff McIntyre showed that he believed the water to be safe by drinking it. I showed doubt in my actions. The worst consequence in either of these circumstances would be a few sick days. But what about matters of eternal importance? 

What we say we believe about God and Heaven and eternity should be reflected in our actions. Are yours?
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