His name was Charles Proteus Steinmetz. He had physically deformities but one of the most brilliant minds in the field of electricity. He immigrated to the United States in 1889 as a political refugee from Germany and was hired by GE in Schendenctady, New York. As an engineer, Steinmetz designed the massive turbine generators used by GE. One day, without warning, those generators broke down and the plant completely shut down. The plant manager brought in mechanics and technicians in order to save money, but they could not figure out what was wrong with the generators. Frustrations were growing and with each passing hour, GE was losing great sums of money. Finally, they called Steinmetz. The electrical wizard came to the plant, puttered around a couple of hours, and then threw the switch. The lights blinked on and off and the turbines began to turn. GE was back in operation to the delight of management.
A few days later, GE received a bill from Steinmetz for $10,000. The management at GE were taken aback and did not want to pay such money! They felt the bill was excessive for the amount of work that had been done. They returned the bill with this note attached: "Charlie, isn't this bill just a little high for the couple of hours of 'tinkering' around on those turbines?" Steinmetz returned the corrected bill to GE and it read: For 'tinkering' around on the turbines - $1. For knowing where to 'tinker' - $9,999. Total: $10,000." GE paid the bill!
This is a great illustration how people live their lives. Many want to cut corners or turn to the wrong sources for their answers to life instead of the one who knows how things work. God is our Creator, the One who put us together and understands every detail of our complex makeup. Man is still trying to figure man out. I hear many speak of going to "professionals" in order to get their lives in order. Christian's turning to a world, separated from God, still in their sins and leaning on them for answers about the confusions and frustrations of life. People turning to those "darkened in the understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart." (Eph. 4:18) But in the rational of thinking, many think they are the professionals, being trained in this line of work. If they are excluded from the life of God and darkened in their understanding, what do they have to offer? Life? The power of God and the wisdom of God? We need to think carefully about the God we preach/teach about the 'god' who we turn to in times of confusion and turmoil. "Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." (II Pet. 1:3) "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." ( I Cor. 1:24) "In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col. 2:3) "And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isa. 9:6) Maybe we do not believe or know where the answers to our lives really lay?
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