Some days it seems like all I ever do is drive; to the bus stop, my kid’s work, church functions, doctor appointments, and the myriad of stores where I purchase items our family needs. Driving only serves one purpose- to get from point A to point B. To accomplish that task requires far more than a simple drive. There are written and driving tests to be taken in order to get a license to drive. You must have a vehicle, which requires money to purchase, and money for the insurance of said vehicle, which means you need to take driver’s ed. for more reasonable insurance rates.
That is all just the beginning. The vehicle will require space to park, regular maintenance and repairs to be made in order to keep running, fluids to keep parts working and let’s not forget our all time favorite expense- gasoline- to keep it moving down the road. All these costs allow us to begin to drive from point to point, but there is also the action part of it. Adjust seats and mirrors, check for traffic, signs, pedestrians, maintain proper speed, lane, directions, etc… The list is continual. Much of it we do without thinking, after we’ve been driving for a while anyway, but to be a good driver and hopefully avoid accidents, you’ve got to keep your mind focused on driving and not the kids, noise, phone or other distractions.
In the same way, we ‘drive’ through our lives on a journey from birth to eternity (an eternity based on our decision while here). In between are relationships, memories, learning, change, struggles and the search for fulfillment. That search to fill the empty spot in us leads us on all kinds of different roads, some of them good, and others very, very bad; there’s a lot of construction but eventually, every person must make a decision about faith in their lives. For those of us who chose salvation through Jesus Christ, we become part of a bigger community called Christians, but the journey doesn’t end there, rather, it begins again.
Now that we are given our new license under Christ, and a new vehicle to drive in- fully insured, we still have other things to deal with. We require a place and time to be still, we need to do regular maintenance on ourselves daily checking for sin, God’s will, worldliness etc. so that we can keep moving forward unobstructed. We need regular intake of nutrition to meet our needs (reading Bible, prayer), time in the presence of God and the filling of the Holy Spirit as the powerful ‘gas’ that gives us energy to keep going.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit… Eph. 6:18 (also 1Th. 5:17 )
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Ps. 119:97
Then there is a continual list of checks as we go through our drive: are we loving in words and actions, are we living with integrity as would please God, are we witnessing God’s love by our actions, compassion, mercy etc. Maybe if we do it enough, it will become automatic in our lives! Of course, we need to (focus on) keep our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2) so we ‘behold attentively’ to the paths God wants us on (Ps. 119:15 YLT). The biggest difference in regular driving and ‘the Christian drive’ is that for us, the driver’s ed. is never completed, not until the Lord returns.
We need to continue learning and maturing* along this drive. The minute we stop doing that, we become dangerous drivers to ourselves and others. We have more potential for causing accidents, even injuring pedestrians. That means we need to stay under the instruction of our teacher (Jh. 14:26 ) and follow His guidance (Rom. 8:14 ). Book (Bible) learning will be required so we know all the ‘how to-s’ and frequent tests will be administered to keep our skills fresh. We can try to get out of the learning, but the consequence could mean our death (spiritual). But this drive is the one that matters most in eternity. It’s our choice: life or death (Dt. 30:19)--- choose life!
…I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
Jh. 14:6
*All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2Tm. 3:16 ,17 ISV
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (complete, mental or moral growth) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children… But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph. 4:13-15
Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2Pt. 3:18 ISV