Lessons from the backwards bicycle

This video is a great illustration for Christian life

1. Knowledge != Understanding

• Preaching != Living
• Believing != Trusting
• Knowing != Intimacy...

No wonder God always talk about knowledge and understanding together yet distinct.  Jesus embodies both. Ask Him for both!

Pro 2:6     For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding
Jer 3:15    Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Isa 11:2    The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD 

2. It takes unlearning the old to learn the new

The youtuber said "once you have rigidity in your head, it is hard to change even if you want to." That is why we struggle so hard. Any distraction could throw us off. It takes 8 months just to unlearn one simple bike riding skill. How much more the entire worldview and every thing directed by that worldview? 

This is why Paul wants us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the end goal. Then, practice practice practice. Once the new skill is achieved (resist sin, obey God), it will become easier and easier. Let the new skill become second nature.   
 

Rom 7:4  Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
Rom 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Gal 2:19-20 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
1Jo 3:9 "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God."
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires
Col 2:11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ
.......

3. Not a surprise, children learn fast 

It took the father 8 months to learn the new bike, while the son only took 2 weeks. Study shows the golden age of evangelism is 4-14. Give the best (Gospel) to your children in their best ages. Jesus wants us to be like little children, not just to have faith like a child, but also be like a child to gain new identity, to form new habits, to have new desires, to learn new skills.... If you see eternity, you know you are but a child. If you only see this world, well, dying old man you are.

Mat 19:14  Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 
Mat 18:3  And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

4. Parting thoughts:

•     Truth is truth no matter what you think about it
•     Be careful how you interpret the world. Because you're looking at it with a bias whether you think you are or not. 

Do you realize you are biased? 
Do you know your bias? 
Have you found the Truth?  

Pro 4:27      Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. 
Psa 119:18  Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.