When’s the last time you thanked God for your teeth? Like many other blessings God has given us, it seems we only think of them when they give us problems. These enamel coated cutters and grinders are the ingenious design of an all-wise Creator who knew we would need them. We also should be thankful for dentists and orthodontists who keep our teeth in good working order. Their training and skills benefit us during routine checkups as well as times of crisis.
Teeth can also teach us spiritual lessons if we take the time to chew on them. Like our teeth, our souls require regular attention to stay healthy. Instead of brushing, we need to spend time daily reading and ruminating on God’s Word. We need to process it in our souls just as we do food in our mouths to obtain every bit of truth, flavor and nutrition.
Unfortunately, there are times when cavities develop. Unless these small holes are sealed, they grow and lead to greater pain and eventually tooth loss. So too, we sometimes develop cavities in our lives where we allow some sin to go unaddressed.
Instead of brushing it away through repentance and confession, it begins to rot our soul. If we continue to ignore it, the decay grows larger sometimes hurting us, but more often others. Only after much suffering do we finally address it. Sadly, it’s often too late to prevent the loss of a relationship or other beneficial aspect of our lives.
Another lesson we can learn from our choppers relates to sanctification, or becoming more like Jesus. While a few are blessed with perfectly aligned teeth, I developed a mouthful of chaos. Although it didn’t interfere with my food consumption, it was quite noticeable and one preschooler once innocently asked me, “What happened to your teeth?”
Later, after one of my lateral incisors broke off, an orthodontist helped organize my confusion with the Invisalign process. Over the course of many months, transparent plastic molds gradually pushed and pulled my teeth into better position. While the first set of aligners were very close to my original mess, each succeeding pair incrementally moved things nearer to the goal.
In a similar fashion, as we read and study God’s Word individually and with others, as we worship and serve God in a church body, and as we interact with more mature Christians, the Holy Spirit works gradually to bring us more in line with the ideal: Jesus. This is the sanctification process and although braces and other methods normally require several months to a few years to achieve attractive smiles, sanctification is a lifelong progression that is only complete when we enter heaven.
Although aligners use gradual processes to bring teeth into proper arrangement, they do require some time and discipline to achieve desired results. So too, spiritual growth requires effort and we must be careful not to resist the Spirit’s work. We must cooperate with Him allowing Him to shape and form us to His liking in spite of the temporary pain and discomfort such correction may cause.
In addition, we must be careful to avoid regression. In Philippians 3:16, Paul advises us to, “Live up to what we have already attained.” Some who benefit from a skilled orthodontist fail to wear their retainers after treatment and their teeth gradually slip out of alignment. In similar fashion, some who get saved and are transformed by the Holy Spirit steadily slide back into old sinful habits. Weekly church attendance as well as accountability through a small group combined with daily devotions and a vital prayer life can all serve as spiritual retainers. They take time and effort, but the benefits are well worth it.
As you eat your next meal, thank God for the teeth He’s put in your mouth (or the dentures that have replaced them) and consider the parable of the teeth for your spiritual wellbeing.
Blessings, George
