Lessons from Cars 20

Lesson 20: Mirrors

The rear-view mirrors are some of the most useful parts of you car. When I lend my car, people sometimes freak out by the way I have set my side mirrors because when they look in them they cannot see what is behind them. I explain that the inside mirror is for seeing what is behind. The side mirrors are for covering blind spots. When a car is behind me it is in my inside mirror. When it disappears from that mirror it appears in one of my side mirrors. And when it disappears from those mirrors it appears in my eyesight. So I am always aware of exactly where other cars are at all times.

In life we should always be aware of where we are in relation to others and to where we have been. We go forward with our eyes on Jesus, but we must not turn a blind eye to those around us. We should be aware of those who are behind us. Some of them are following our example. Where we go, they will go. How we behave, they will behave. We should be aware of those coming along side us in life. Some are there to encourage us. Some are there to reassure us. Some are there to help. And we should be aware of those overtaking us. Sooner or later we will slow down, our journey will end, and others must complete the task and go where we cannot. We must be humble enough to let them pass.

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Lessons from Cars 19

Lesson 19: Accessories

Car accessories are those things that make driving more pleasant. They are not necessities; you can drive without them, but they make the driving experience more enjoyable. My dad’s old ’54 pickup had one accessory—a glove compartment. By the time I got my ’69 Vauxhall it had a glove compartment and a cigarette lighter (now called a power outlet). Later vehicles had a radio, cassette player, cd-player and a satellite radio. Today’s luxury vehicles have all this and more—heated seats, power seats, DVD-player, heated steering wheel, climate control and built-in navigation system, to name a few.

In our Christian life there are also necessities and accessories. Certain things are absolutely necessary if we are to maintain a healthy spiritual lift—prayer, Bible reading, worship and fellowship with other Christians, and acts of service. And there are other things that can help us, things that in this context may be considered accessories. These include listening to good music that will inspire us, reading good books that will encourage us, and putting good art in our homes (including Christian art and mottos). 

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Lessons from Cars 18

Lesson18: Security features

None of the vehicles I have ever owned have been on the “most stolen” list. Only someone desperate would steal a Vauxhall—although someone did steal the battery out of it. And then there was the K-car and an old Aerostar minivan, and a string of other practical but not-very-sought-after vehicles. Years ago it was fairly easy for thieves to “hot wire” cars. Even teens did this just to go on a joy ride, with no intentions of keeping the vehicles. Today security features are much improved with electronic keys, remote door locks, and built in GPS systems to track stolen cars.

In the Bible the devil is described as a thief who comes to take away that which God has given us. We see in the story Adam and Eve how the devil stole their innocence and security. We see in the story of Noah how the devil took away peace from the earth and replaced it with violence. In the parable of the farmer scattering his seeds the devil took away the word of the gospel before it could take root in the hearts of the hearers. We must be always on our guard against the devil lest temptations of the world and the flesh rob us of our peace and the blessings we have in Jesus.

Revelation 3:11

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Lessons from Cars 16

Lesson 16. Dashboard: information

The dashboard of your car is the source of all kinds of vital information necessary for the safe performance of your vehicle. The early cars gave the barest essentials: gas gage, engine temperature, voltage, odometer, speedometer, turn signals, and high beam indicator. With electronic dashboards of today we have all that and more. My minivan shows me the oil life, the average amount of fuel consumed per kilometre, that a seatbelt is not fastened and that a door is ajar. It even has a built in satellite system that enables me to phone hands free.

If our lives can be compared to a car the question we need to consider is where are we getting the information necessary for a healthy, fulfilling life? Is the information reliable? Is it enough? We acquire a lot of information over the years—some more helpful than others. Advertisers will try to convince you that you need their products in order to be happy. Your friends may tell you that you need to have certain experiences to be happy—do drugs, smoke, drink, have sex. Others may tell you that you need money, fame, or power to be happy. But what is God saying to you? That is the most vital information you need to know.

Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Lessons from Cars 15

Lesson 15: Windows

On a number of occasions I have been driving and thought that my windows were clean. Then I found myself driving directly into the sun and, wow, all the dust and grime revealed itself. I could hardly see out the window. Driving in the shade or with the sun behind me was no problem. As soon as the light hit the window, all was revealed. The sad thing was that the dust was on the inside. Keeping the windows clean on the outside was not such a problem, my wipers, along with the rain and an occasional car wash took care of that. It was the dirt on the inside that was the problem. I had to get out the Windex.

In our Christian life we can often get away with keeping clean on the outside. An occasional visit to church, a few charitable donations, a little volunteer work and we appear to those around us to be upright citizens. But in the light of God’s word and in the glow of God’s Spirit moving in our hearts we see what we are on the inside. Jesus had a word for people who appeared clean on the outside but were dirty on the inside. He called them hypocrites. Strive to be pure through and through. Keep the windows to your soul clean.

Matthew 23:26

First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Lessons from Cars 5

Lesson 5. Brand Loyalty

Brand loyalty is a big thing in the car industry. My dad purchased his 1954 GMC pickup in 1955. He kept it for 10 years. For a while we called it Chevy, then as it became part of the family we called her Betsy. It was the only vehicle I knew during my growing up years. We loved that old Chev, but we weren’t Hard-core Loyals;  we were Switchers driven by what we could afford. So over the years I have owned Chevs, Fords, AMC cars, and Dodges. With the exception of my first car, the Viva, I have stuck with North American brands. So I suppose there is some loyalty there to the domestic vehicles.

Loyalty is also important in our faith. Much more important than loyalty to car manufacturers. The Bible word for loyalty is “faithfulness.” It used to be that Christians counted loyalty to their church as something very important. If they were born into a particular denomination, they stayed as such until they died. Today, loyalty to a particular denomination is not so important in most people’s minds. This results in what some call “church hopping.” While “switching brands” is sometimes necessary, it should not be a regular habit. There is something to be said about putting down roots and becoming a faithful member of your church. But above all, faithfulness to Christ is what counts in the end.

Matthew 25:21

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Lessons from Cars 2

Lesson 3: New or Used

Over the 42 years that I have been driving, I have owned eleven vehicles—eight cars and three mini-vans. Of these, five were bought new, five came off a used car lot, and one I bought from a friend. When purchasing a vehicle one question that has to be answered early in the process is whether to buy new or used. My father used to say, “Don’t buy someone else’s junk.” His opinion was forged from his experiences with a few lemons he purchased used over the years. While his advice is still valid, I have learned to appreciate the fact that there is value in both new and used cars. Conversely, “junk” can come in new packaging as well as old.

In our Christian life we should not be too hasty to label anything as “junk.” I have known Christians to dismiss old hymns and traditional worship services as being broken down and ineffective. I have also known Christians to label contemporary worship songs as been all show and no substance. The truth is that there are some old hymns that should be thrown out and there are some new songs that should never be sung. On the other hand there are some old songs and old traditions that carry a lot of meaning and should be treasured. Likewise there are some beautiful, new worship songs that need to be learned and adopted. What holds true for worship songs, also holds true for people. It’s not age, but quality that counts.

Matthew 13:52

 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”