Question: How many warning lights on your automobile dashboard would it take for you to take your car into the shop? Well, if you’re of the millennial or Gen Z generations (anyone born between 1981 to 2012), a recent survey gave us your number: eight! You read that correctly. Apparently, it takes an average of eight warning lights for Gen Zers and millennials to schedule maintenance on their cars. Also, interesting to note, of those surveyed, one in four tends to disregard completely the warning lights and continues driving despite warnings about low tire pressure, the need for an oil change, or excessive emissions.

Confession, I am a few years past the millennial or Gen Z generations, but I have been guilty of letting a warning light (or two) stay on for a period before actually doing something about it. It’s funny, those warning lights are there to notify us that something needs to be addressed, but if we’re honest, it’s hard to take something seriously when you don’t really see the damage that it’s pointing to. Sadly, it can be much costlier if left ignored.

I was thinking about this study recently when I was reading chapter 21 of Luke’s Gospel. In it, Luke captures a moment where Jesus was walking with His disciples and they were commenting on the beauty of the temple. Jesus didn’t disagree, but He did point to the fragility of earthly things and the end of days that would soon be approaching. Jesus then warned His friends of the following:

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:34-36)

When it comes to our spiritual lives, regardless of age, there’s always the temptation to ignore the warning signs of sin and continue in sinful behavior if we’re managing to “hold it together.” Yet, time is precious and God is faithful to meet us in the midst of our weakness and forgive us of our sin. Perhaps you have a warning light (or two) on the dashboard of your spiritual life. Take it to Jesus. He’s closer than you think, and so is the Good News: Through the cross, your debt has already been paid.