It has occurred to me that the Lord’s relationship with me is like my relationship with my car.
Ironically, this occurred to me while actually driving my car. My car and me are similar in several ways. We are both on a journey, and we are both getting older and have started to have “health” issues. However, our similarities do differ just as our life expectancies also differ. My car is a 17-year-old 2005 Pontiac GP (GrandPa), and I am also a grandpa, but more than 50 years older than my car.
As I go on my way in life, I am the one who determines when I drive, as well as the speed and direction of my journey. Almost always there are interruptions and delays along the way like stop lights, stop signs, heavy traffic, and accidents. And I’ve even had a trip interrupted simply because I saw a sign for ice cream. Of course, there are other rare times when my travels are delayed because my car has an operational problem and can’t run properly. It’s not that it won’t—it can’t. As we all know, this can happen to cars of any age.
This isn’t a perfect analogy, but close enough to make this point. As I venture through life, ideally, I want Jesus to be my driver while I go on life’s way, which is hopefully his way. Again, almost always there are interruptions like phone calls, extra work and family obligations, TV, social media and __________ you fill in your blank. However, the big difference is that my car sometimes can’t operate normally, not that it won’t. On the other hand, when I don’t operate like my driver (Jesus) wants me to, it is always because I won’t, and not that I can’t.
Yes, I realize that I am a flawed human being incapable of being perfect. But, I also realize that I am a son of God, part of the Body of Christ, the Church, and I am able to be more perfect than I am right now.
Because I’m not wealthy and also I don’t want to waste money needlessly, I’m trying to keep my faithful Pontiac (GrandPa) going for as long as I can. We just hit 200K miles a few days ago! Even though there are several relatively minor things wrong with the car, I’d rather spend the money to repair it than to upgrade and have a monthly payment. Plus, I’m comfortable with my car and I like my car. I think God and our Lord Jesus feel the same way about us. The truth is, they not only like us, they love us.
Evangelism is a major part of our responsibilities as children of God. And while God and Jesus, and according to Scripture, angels too, are thrilled at welcoming new members to the Christian family, the newbies don’t replace existing members of the Church like a car being traded in. They enhance it. Unlike a car, our God and our Lord need our cooperation in our repair process. It’s very much like the potter in Jeramiah 18 who has to work with the clay he’s presented with. If the clay doesn’t conform to the workings of the potter, the potter is forced to reuse the clay for another alternative purpose.
God is the ultimate repairer and restorer. He heals the spiritual void in people by offering them salvation, which is new “born again” spiritual life made available by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. He repairs the brokenness in all members, new and old, as they live in union with Christ. He’s been repairing me for many years. Compared to 40 years ago, there’s very little profanity proceeding out of my mouth. I also have a bit more compassion, gentleness, and kindness. But I have a very long way to go to achieve a state of total repair and then finally restoration. In fact, I’ll never get there totally until God allows the Lord Jesus to return. That return and restoration in biblical terms is called “The Hope”. If you’re a child of God think about and cherish this hope. Hebrews 6:19 says “It anchors our souls”! And as you think, use your wildest imagination, because Ephesians 3:20 says, “he is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think”!
