Toothache

 

Exactly one week ago, I began to have a toothache.  So, I brushed my teeth especially well where the pain was occurring and rinsed my mouth out with mouthwash.  I was careful not to eat any sweets or hot/cold drinks, and the pain went away.  Great!  I planned on calling the dentist Monday morning.  But with the pain gone, I forgot all about the dentist … until a week later.  Yesterday, I was chewing gum (duh!) and felt something odd in my mouth: my crown had come off!  I picked it out of the gum and put it in my pocket.  Now I had to call the dentist on Monday morning.  I told my wife that I was going to put the crown under my pillow for the tooth fairy.  We laughed, and I said, “I’ll get a couple of dollars for the crown but have to pay $2,000 at the dentist’s office for another one!”  Not a very good idea.  And another bad idea is listening to someone’s advice about the Bible who hasn’t read it.  That’s second-hand information.  A better idea would be to read the Bible for yourself.  And like second-hand smoke, second-hand information about the Bible could be deadly!  If your pastor/priest/imam/rabbi hasn’t read the Bible, don’t listen to their advice!  Read the Bible for yourself!  Jesus spoke of two roads in Matthew 7.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:13&14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Hey, don’t be like me and give a $2,000 crown to the tooth fairy!  A bad decision!  Listen to the dear Lord for spiritual advice.  A good decision!