In 1953, a fledgling company, Rocket Chemical, set out to create a rust-prevention solvent and degreaser to use in the aerospace industry. Working in a small lab in San Diego, California, it took them 40 attempts to get the water-displacing formula worked out, naming the product “WD-40.”  By 1973, the company, now called “The WD-40 Company, Inc., began marketing their product over the counter in retail stores. Today the majority of households have at least one of the familiar blue and yellow cans of WD-40 in their home or shop.  Though mainly used as a solvent, it has lubricant-like properties that do not come from the substance itself, but from dissolving components. It has many uses other than as a solvent or lubricant. You can use it to waterproof your shoes or boots, get gum out of your hair or remove a paint rub on your car. You can use WD-40 to break in a new ball glove, to remove tight rings, kill weeds or remove lime stains from a toilet bowl. And the list goes on and on. One list online shows 1000+ uses for WD-40! Check it out!

     We could find a similar background for and applications of “Duct Tape.”  Someone suggested that “There are two essential items every household and every toolbox needs : W-40 and Duct Tape. If something won’t move and should, use WD-40. If it shouldn’t move and does, use Duct Tape!”

     Well, while the magic liquid in a can of WD-40 can lubricate, remove, preserve and safeguard all kinds of stuff, there’s a much more priceless spiritual item that all believers “in Christ” need to have on hand and apply to their lives to preserve them, remove stains, and keep them moving and to protect them from the world’s evil influences.  That spiritual “item” is the precious Word of God, the written revelation of God to mankind we know of as the Bible, the collection of some 66 separate books which make up the canon of the Scriptures, given by inspiration of God and infallible in their original recording. 

     It is through this recorded revelation from God that we discover who God is and what His plan is for bringing sinful man back into a right relationship with Himself through God the Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. (II Cor. 5:20; I Pet. 2:24).  By faith in Christ’s work at the Cross and His subsequent resurrection, we are “born again” (Jn. 3:3), washed clean by the Word of God and regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 15:3; Eph. 5:25,26; Tit. 3:5,6). We become “new creatures” in Christ (II Cor. 5:17) as Christ comes to live in us through the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19,20; Gal. 2:20). But, we still have our old sinful nature (Gal. 5:17) so need to learn to depend on Christ and “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) in obedience to God’s Word to avoid falling back into following the lusts of our flesh (old nature). 

   Thus it is so important that we not only have a Bible on the shelf, but that we spend time in it every day, allowing it to be the “lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway” (Psa. 119:105).  By living in adherence to God’s Word, we can keep our life pure (Psa. 119:9).  We can avoid sinning by treasuring God’s Word in our heart (Psa. 119:11). So, it’s important, not only to spend time reading Scripture, but memorizing key verses and meditating on them.  Paul challenged his understudy, Timothy, to be diligent when it came to studying God’s Word, to “handle accurately the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15), for “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable, for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (II Tim. 3:16,17). 

     Whether it is interpersonal relationships in a family or at work or in our friendships, or our involvement in this world, or our attachment to material things, or our health, or our eternal future, or our worldview, the Bible has applications for us. God’s Word is sufficient for every need we may have. WD-40 may have more than 1,000 applications, but God’s Word had unlimited applications to answer our questions and meet our needs.  How precious is God’s Word to you?  Do you make it part of your daily life?  Here is Jeremiah’s comment about the value of God’s Word: “Thy words were found and I ate them and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jer. 15:16).  The Psalmist, David, wrote this about what the Scriptures meant to him: “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes…The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psa. 19:7-11). 

     And they had only a few books of the Old Testament. We have the completed revelation from God, including the Gospels, The Acts, the epistles, and Revelation.  What a precious possession–God’s “WD-40” for our every need.  Don’t let it sit and gather dust. Use it! Read it and heed it!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave