When my dad was in his medical residency program in Charleston, S.C., our family attended First Baptist Church of Charleston. I was about 6 years old at the time, and I recall the experience vividly. John Hamrick was pastor at that time, and I recollect him being tall and dignified. Of course, as a 6-year-old, I don’t remember a word he ever preached, but I am certain that the Word did not return empty or void but was planted in fertile soil.
What I do remember most clearly was the squeaky doors at the end of each pew. If you’ve ever been to First Baptist Church of Charleston, you would have seen the little white wooden doors affixed to either end of each pew as was customary in many churches built in the early 1800s. Now rather than paying attention to the sermon, my little mind was fascinated by the challenge of opening that door without making it squeak, which, of course, would disturb the polite silence of the auditorium and bring annoyed glances from adults.
On one particular Sunday morning, my mother made the mistake of allowing me to sit beside the door. I kept eyeing the door until I couldn’t withstand the temptation any longer. Could I push that door open slowly enough that it would not squeak? Would it not be a major triumph if I could get it all the way open without the hinges making the slightest noise?
Slowly, ever so slowly, I surreptitiously pushed that door with my little, sneaky hand. A loud squeak of the hinges penetrated the respectful silence. I jerked my hand back as my mom reached over and pinched the pure-tee-living-fire out of my thigh. I bit my lip and forced myself not to cry out. After all, I had 6-year-old friends in the service, and I had a reputation to uphold.
Well, foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. I’m fairly certain there was a pickup load of foolishness bound up in my heart at that time, because I kept eyeing that door. Sure enough, I tried once again to win bragging rights in the 6-year-old boys’ Sunday school class. As I pushed that door ever so slowly again, it squealed like fresh tires on new asphalt. In a flash, my dad jerked me up by the arm and lifted me over the squeaky door, and down the aisle we went with all of my horrified friends watching aghast.
There was no rod of discipline to drive the foolishness out of my heart. He simply applied the flat of his palm to my bare thigh twice in rapid succession right there on the front steps of First Baptist Church, in front of God and every tourist walking by gazing at the historic building. Then he stood up straight and tall and pretended he didn’t even know me.
I began to caterwaul like my pet collie did when he got a treble hook caught in his front paw. He sat on his haunches, held up his front paw, and commenced this high-pitched squalling. I was performing a close imitation when my dad leaned over and said, “Dry it up, boy, or I’ll give you something to really cry about.” I already knew what that meant, so I dried it up quick like. He hauled me back down the aisle still snubbing to the approving smiles of the adults and the apprehension of my peers.
I had the keen foresight to position my mother between me and the squeaky door. I didn’t even look at that door for the rest of my life. Once burned, twice shy.
There are all manner of squeaky doors in our lives that we shouldn’t sit by, touch, or even look at. You know what they are in your life. If you aren’t certain, ask Holy Spirit. That’s His ministry – to clarify for you the source of temptation in your life. I would like to say I have been as successful in my adult life at staying away from squeaky doors as I was for the rest of our stay at First Baptist Church of Charleston — but that wouldn’t be truthful, and you would know that. Sadly for me, my Heavenly Father has had to discipline me on multiple occasions for messing with other squeaky doors.
God has given us strong advice for dealing with temptation (i.e., squeaky doors). Let me also give you some helpful hints from the Country Doctor’s Rusty Dusty Scrapbook:
1) A dog in the hunt doesn’t know he has fleas. My uncle’s bird dogs never seemed to have time to scratch for fleas while they were hunting quail. It was only when they were back in the truck in the dog box that they would incessantly scratch for fleas. When a Christian’s mind is consumed with the active pursuit of righteousness, the devil can’t slide a temptation in edgewise. A serious believer in the hot pursuit of righteousness is impervious to the fiery darts of the evil one because “his mind is set on things above, not on things of this earth.” Paul told Timothy to “flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22). That means to put on your running shoes and run like Joseph did when confronted with temptation. Although we may find it embarrassing to have to run away, it is less humiliating than finding oneself lying in the mud fully exposed.
2) Good intentions will never overcome a bad location. I tell my children to not put themselves in compromising situations and to “avoid even the appearance of evil.” “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14). We all have a lower nature (sinful desires). We should not put ourselves in a position to allow those desires to be satisfied. I tell my alcoholics to stay out of bars and my drug-addicted patients to stay away from their drug-abusing friends. You know the temptations (squeaky doors) in your life. Just don’t sit next to them. Don’t look at them. Don’t touch them.
Squeaky doors come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. So does temptation. Put the Word of God between you and the squeaky door, and don’t even look at it. A word to the wise is sufficient.
— Robert Jackson, a member of First Baptist Church, Boiling Springs, is a family practice doctor in Chesnee.