Two Drivers and Two cars
Last night, as my family and I were walking from our car to a restaurant to dine for the evening, my 9 year old son asked, “Dad, what is the lowest amount of money that you can pay for a car?” My mind went back to when I was about 13 or 14 years old and I remember that one of the local dealers advertised that on the coming Saturday they would be selling several cars for $25 and that the cars that were selling for $25 would be scattered around their lot and would be made available on a 1st come/1st served basis. I remember my dad and I reading and laughing at the fine print that most people overlooked. There were NO guarantees with the cars and the latest car was well over 15 years old…the cars weren’t even guaranteed to run long enough get you home, yet as the news cameras showed up to the scene on the Friday night before the “sale”, hundreds of people were camped out over night to get the “deal of a lifetime”.
I guess the image of those beat up cars was on my mind as I slept because after I had my devotions this morning, CARS WERE ON MY MIND. Two distinct images came to mind. One was of an eager, young, excited driver who was very animated, and focused. One hand on the wheel and the “metal was to the pedal”…He was flooring it; however, all was not well. He was driving one of those $25 “hoopties or buckets”…oil leaking, engine smoking, windshield foggy and cracked and the worst thing was that he was plowing through a busy expressway going the WRONG WAY. Even though he was going the wrong way, he was excited and committed to his journey. He put all those around him in danger as he selfishly traveled recklessly though traffic.
The other image in contrast was that of an older man, also on the expressway. This driver was a nervous wreck. Both hands on the wheel, constantly checking both side mirrors, his rear view mirror and his “blindspots”. His hands were shaking as he literally inched forward, barely giving the car enough gas to move forward. He was behind the wheel of a Saleen S7 Twin Turbo (which costs about $585k and is one of the fastest “street legal” cars. It is capable of going from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, top speed of about 225mph and totes 750 horsepower). He was going the right way but he too was a danger to those around him in traffic, as he chose not to use his “whip” to go the legal speed limit. With what he had, he could have easily left everyone in the dust, but he chose to take up the rear.
As I thought about these two different images, I began to reflect on my life. Sometimes in my relationship with God, my dedication to His plans and purpose for me, my relationship with my wife, my relationship with my children and in my dealing with others, I have been guilty of being like the man going “too slow” in my fast car. I have allowed my fears and selfishness to cause me to “inch” toward my dreams, to “inch” toward my purpose, to “inch” toward a deeper relationship with my wife and kids and to sadly “inch” toward a deeper understanding of and relationship with God.
He has given me more than I need to be abundantly successful in every aspect of my life as He put me on the right path. I’m convicted by the thought that at times I had more “gusto”, more determination, more focus when I was going the “wrong way” like the young eager man in the $25 car. Sadly that is the case for too many of the followers of Christ. When it comes to the things of God as compared to things of the world, we are less eager, have less focus and less determination. We carefully measure each step, and pursue God’s plans at a “snails pace”.
We ignore the God’s power that works though us and the Greatness that He has called us to. Ephesians 3:19-20 (Amplified Bible) reads:
19[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—
God has given us a GREAT DESTINATION to press toward, a GREAT ROAD of life to travel upon to get there and a GREAT VEHICLE to ride in along the way. His plans for us are far superior to our most extreme dreams. All we need to do is to trust Him and to stop driving around like we are in a “hooptie” that is about to breakdown, and realize that we are behind the wheel of a custom made and finely tuned “sports car” that is road ready.
ZOOOOOOOOOM!!!! ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
Be Blessed,
B
