Julius Bembry worked with my father for over 50 years. He excelled at operating farm equipment, always listening and watching for anything that needed attention. He was also talented at keeping things running, both through regular maintenance and ongoing repairs.

Our shop was nothing spectacular, just a cement floor in a corner of a tin shelter. A John Deere 4020 tractor would fit inside, but that was approaching the limit. The main luxury was a round, propane heater. Standing close to it would thaw one side as the other remained frozen.    

The tools Julius used were not fancy either, but were adequate for most jobs. When he retired in 2004 they were in good shape because he kept them ready for the next use. Thanks to my negligence, however, many are now in a state of disrepair.

A drill press was a handy piece of equipment that held up well for several decades. The drill still spins but the platform is no longer adjustable. For some tasks that’s okay, but usually it’s too inconvenient to bother with. 

There’s no telling how many pieces of metal the bandsaw has cut through. The saw worked fine until the blade lost its teeth. It chewed through hard fare for ages without complaining, then gradually began taking longer to finish the entrees. Today it would hardly slice a green apple.

A shop press is out of service too. It looks fine but the hydraulic jack won’t hold oil. A new seal would probably stop the leak, or acquiring a new jack wouldn’t be expensive. The press, though, is seldom needed, so it’s easy to procrastinate on making repairs.

Smaller tools are in similar condition. An electric motor that turns an emery wheel and a steel brush needs a switch. Fortunately the switch stopped working while in the on position. Now I just plug and unplug the cord. Three dollars and ten minutes would resolve the problem, so I don’t have a good excuse.    

Those tools were once important on our family farm. Without them a lot of repairs could not have been made on site. Others would have required considerably more time and effort. Today I rarely need them, so uselessness is not a great concern.

Their condition, however, reminds me that disrepair is not limited to inanimate objects. It affects people too. Sometimes we bring it on ourselves by making poor choices. In other instances it’s unavoidable. Accidents, illnesses, and assorted calamities can take physical and emotional tolls that are challenging or impossible to overcome. And given enough time, even well-maintained parts wear out.  

The most serious aspect of mankind’s disrepair, however, is spiritual. It’s more critical than anything else because it has eternal consequences. Thankfully, the matter can be perfectly addressed if we’re willing. We have a Creator who’s ready to mend what’s broken within, but he leaves it up to us to seek his help. 

 It won’t make much difference if our shop tools are never put back in good working order. But it’s critical that we don’t ignore a state of spiritual disrepair. Excuses are plentiful, but we won’t get to present our case to a jury of peers. Delay is an especially subtle temptation that can lead to disaster. Tomorrow, however, is not guaranteed. Nor is the rest of today.    

Amazing grace offers us what’s better than deserved. No matter how far we’ve strayed, or how adamantly we’ve rejected the tenets of a saving faith, or how many terrible decisions our past includes, there’s a remedy that’s ours for the asking.

An old farm shop with tools that don’t work is just a temporary inconvenience. A soul left in disrepair, however, can become a permanent condition.

Julius kept the tools in the shop ready for the next job. Perhaps that approach is worth considering on a spiritual level. Two questions seem fitting to ponder and pray over. Am I ready for God to use me? Or am I in a state of disrepair?

There’s a cure that’s sure and available to all. It’s up to us to make the call.