INSANITY’S OTHER DEFINITION: extreme foolishness or irrationality. I’ve heard insanity described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The same recipe gives you the same dish. Here’s an older story: in our house in Covington, I planted flowers every year. There’s a small patch of dirt besides the garage where I planted and there was a huge rock in the dirt bed that I planted around. Like clockwork, every year to the right of this rock, I planted a flower and every year it died. The rest of the bed to the left of the rock was perfectly good and the flowers spread and multiplied. But this one did well for a time and then died. Every. Single. Year.
I’m not exaggerating. I am sure there was a big rock beneath the dirt that blocked the roots from growing deeper. The soil on that property was very rocky soil. We lived at that property for almost 17 years. I never thought this was be a sermon example. I am insane! Why did I keep planting a flower there? What did I think would change? Did I think the dirt had magically gotten better? Did I forget that the flower I planted died? These are questions you have to ask yourself about the destructive patterns in your own life. I cannot tell you how many times I see people have this same mindset. They return to old relationships and mindsets, old habits and same thinking; they run back to their past with thoughts that “this time it will be different!” They forget.
“But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”” II Peter 2:22
In the words of Susan Powter, “Stop the insanity!” Some older people will remember that crazy weight-loss lady. You are only banging your head against a wall and going around that same proverbial mountain. Another marriage is not going to complete you, another drink is not going to stop the pain, those old worldly friends who did you wrong and lead you into destruction are not the answer. Here’s a tip: if they led you down a path of destruction once, they will do it again. My goodness!
If I could tell you the amount of people I have counseled that continue to sow seeds in the same patch of dirt. It’s more than I can number. They do what I tell them not to do, don’t do what I tell them to do, and come back months later only to be frustrated that their life is still the same. You will never lose weight if you eat ice cream every night before bed. You will never lower your blood pressure if you throw salt on everything. Stop planting in the same rocky patch of dirt. You have no roots and are constantly being tossed to and fro. This is an eternal spiritual principle.
“Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.” Luke 8:6, 13
Look to Jesus and fall humbly at His feet. Search His Word for answers, not the world. You must renew your mind and be transformed. Your thinking has to change, otherwise your actions will never change. The will of a man is very strong. We are all “strong-willed” children and we want our own way. Your will must change from “I will”, to “Thy will”.
The very definition of repentance is a change of the will. And you can only overcome with the Lord’s strength. Otherwise, you will continue to do the same stupid things over and over. Cry out to Jesus for help and stop planting in the same dirt! Only He can give you the field that will bring forth an abundance of good fruit. Sit still at the Master’s feet and wait on the Lord. He will give you a new field. Plant in that dirt and stay in that field.
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