A screen door on a submarine?

Virtually, everyone has heard this old phrase: “You’re about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.”

If you’re unfamiliar with this and someone says it to you, do not take it as a compliment! 🤣

Obviously, a screen door on a submarine would not only be useless, it would be extremely dangerous but that’s not where I’m headed with this article.

You’ve probably noticed (from these articles and my books, videos, and podcasts) that I have a pretty dry sense of humor. That didn’t come out of nowhere. I inherited it from my dad, and that’s not a complaint. I actually appreciate it, even if not everyone else does! Sometimes, I have to tell my audiences that I am very funny since they may never figure that out on their own. See, I can’t help myself even now as I am talking about how dry my sense of humor is!

I am incredibly indebted to both my parents for the upbringing they provided. There are extremely few times I ever remember there being tension between my dad and myself. Each of those times was related to me being a bit lazy and forgetting to take the garbage out. I never remember being upset with my dad because of something I thought he did. (I’m not saying my parents were perfect, I just have much to be thankful for.)

I remember my dad asking me if I got paid for being good. I said, “No,” to which he responded, “Well, then you’re good for nothing!” That was funny. He also told me, “You’re never completely useless. You can always serve as a bad example!” Coming from someone else, that could definitely be an insult, but not from him.

Where am I headed with all of this? I don’t know, does it need to go somewhere? Yes, I suppose it does, so here goes.
If someone is as useless as a “screen door on a submarine,” that’s not a good thing. We need to ask ourselves, “How useful am I?” I don’t just mean useful around the house, at work, to your neighbors, etc. I mean for eternity.

I am not discounting doing helpful things and maintaining a good rapport with others. That’s always good. But what about beyond that? How much of what you do will actually have an impact for eternity? Are you being greatly used by God? Are you using your spiritual gifts to their maximum potential?

I have something indelibly etched into my mind, and I’m glad. When I was attending John Brown University (a Christian university in Arkansas), a guy in the dorm room next to mine had a huge poster of a college football field on his wall. However, the focus wasn’t on the field but on the track around it with runners on it. Written at the top of the poster was, “If you don’t run into Satan once in a while during your life, maybe you’re going the same direction!” Yikes!

Many Christians are too complacent in life because, for the most part, everything seems to be going very smoothly. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with being in a season of life where things are generally going very well and you’re not running around putting out fires. If you find yourself there, thank God and use it as a time of refreshing.

However, if you experience extended periods of time with no real challenges, then maybe you should be asking if you are really doing what God has called you to do. Scripture promises us we will encounter many trials and tribulations.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Again, if you generally don’t have this experience, it could be that you are not truly fulfilling the role God has crafted you for. It’s not about making a Herculean effort to change the world. It’s simply about sharing the Gospel message with as many people within your circle as possible. I always say, God gives us the opportunities, we respond in obedience, and the Holy Spirit does all the “heavy lifting.”

One other interesting thought. Sometimes, we interpret “smooth sailing” as God’s approval of our life. However, it is entirely possible that Satan looks at certain Christians and says something like, “I know they are saved, so I can’t stop them from going to heaven, but at least they are not doing much of anything that will lead someone else to becoming saved. I will ensure that I don’t personally cause any turmoil in their life, so they remain content, with no real challenges that might drive them to seek God more earnestly.” In Satan’s eyes, as far as the cause of Christ goes, some Christians are as useless as a screen door on a submarine. No reason to mess with them… he’s got “bigger fish to fry.”

In closing, I want to say that I am not trying to be too harsh or judgmental. I am just encouraging each one of us to examine ourselves to see if we are effectively using the gifts God has granted us to further the kingdom and witness to those around us who so desperately need a Savior. I want this to be more of an encouragement than a condemnation.