Any teen worth his teenage years could tell you exactly how many days it
was until he was old enough to get his driver’s license. Somehow it didn’t seem
fair that in Jersey it was 17 and I had to wait a year longer than my cousin in
Pennsylvania, and even though older, I only got a few months head start. It
didn’t seem fair that the driver’s ed. course my high school offered was dropped
the year before, and that I would not miss a class to go out driving. That I
might have to attend a driving school, and why did all these things keep getting
in the way of my license? What did society, or at least the state of New Jersey
know about me that it didn’t want me to drive a car, or ride a motorcycle? And
I took it personal...
But when the day came, I passed with flying colors, whatever that means,
not having to execute the dreaded parallel parking part, and having a cool
tester. I would eventually have licenses in five states, to drive cars,
motorcycles, and semis, but that first test was the hardest. For one important
reason, I had never taken one before, and had no idea of what to expect. We had
heard all the rumors how he would ask for a piece of gum to get your hands off
the wheel, make you parallel park, watch your speed, and heaven help if you went
over 25, no matter what the sign said. More hype than reality, and to quote my
mother on other things in my life, “if you know it, it’s easy.” And I somehow
just knew how to drive....
An old French saying says there are two things you never criticize about a
man, his love making and his driving, and not necessarily in that order. Either
one can get you in trouble, but when it comes to driving, no one wants to be
known as a lousy driver. Yet the roads are filled with them, who have licenses,
but no skills. Point and steer, text and weave, and when the light turns red,
follow the other cars through it...welcome to California. An old chant tells us
“we got the rope, we got the tree, all we need is the referee.” With cars it is
“we got the car, now I get the license. I can learn later if at all.” But did
you ever wonder who started it all, how did the first drivers learn to drive?
Who to blame for it all....
Imagine when the automobile was new, and didn’t come with instructions.
You had to figure it out, how to set the spark and timing, turn the crank, hop
in and give it gas, and if it stalled, repeat the process until it ran. Then
point and give it the gas, which one man in Nashville did, and the booklet not
telling him to back out of the gas at the corner didn’t, and on two wheels kept
going, for almost a mile before he thought to back out of the gas and stop. The
man was Duncan Dorris, and eventually would drive cross country, and even try to
build a car in his name, but his first ride at 12 mph was almost his last.
Ironically he would be the first man to hit a pedestrian in Nashville, harming
two women, such was the learning curve for learning to drive in 1895. Sounds
like 2017. With nothing added about his love making....
We talked last night of those who use the excuse of studying to be found
approved who are really looking for a loophole to excuse their sin. We hit a
nerve, as many agreed, and had not thought of studying in such a manner, but
admitted they had. “God get me out of this situation, I’ll never do it again,”
comparing their sin to one King David,and saying, “well he did it and God said
he was a man after his own heart,” so it must be OK for me. One woman wanted to
know why one section of scripture told us God hates homosexuality, but loves the
homosexual. Seasoned saints know God loves the sinner but hates the sin, it was
new to her. Which led to a question of what is sin? Not saved she was seeking
God, and had many questions. She had her Bible, was trying to read it and
figure it out, she thought that becoming a Christian was like taking a test, and
was studying to pass. A test administered by the church, and she just didn’t
know much. She was giving her life over to reading and studying, but missing
out on the spirit, who reveals the mysteries of scripture, who makes it
personal, who tells us “we need Jesus,” and points us to him. Then upon
arriving, is our counselor, comforter and friend. To her it was just a test to
get into heaven, but adding to mother’s quote, “if you know Jesus, it is easy.”
She had opened up a Bible, found a speed, and stayed there no matter the road
conditions, and missed Jesus all together. Of course that would never happen to
you.....
Isaiah tells us that God say “your ways are not my ways, nor are your
thoughts my thoughts.” If we limit ourselves to one teaching as she had heard,
we can be led astray. We become like the student waiting to take their driver’s
test, believing all the rumors, living in fear, and wondering if we are ready,
have we practiced enough? What if we go too fast, what if we can’t park, what
if we miss a corner, what if we hit someone? Religion binds us to legalism like
that, the spirit sets us free to see Jesus, and for who he is. So while some
study, others get out and drive. They learn God’s ways by living, rather than
studying, and get to know the man instead of the scripture about him. And when
reading about him, recognize him because they know him, his ways, and his
thoughts. An experience, not just a lesson. If we limit ourselves just to
teaching, how can we expect to see God in action when we put the book down and
get out and experience life? So do not be concerned with the test, get to know
the one who tests, who forgives, and instructs, whose love is endless, and can
guide your path. When we limit God we limit ourselves, for we make our thoughts
his, thinking he is a man like us, when all he wants is to take a man and make
us like him. So who taught you about God? Did you take a test to enter a
church, did you follow a procedure, a set of canonized laws, or did you follow
the spirit? Can you quote it or does your lie reflect it? If we put you in a
car with a new driver, what would they learn from you? About God, Jesus, and
the holy spirit?
Fortunately unlike the tests to drive, God never changes form state to
state. You don’t have to wonder “what he might think this time and if it may
differ next time.” He never changes, there are no footnotes for a certain
situation, and when studying comes down to what the spirit has shown you, you
see the scriptures come alive, Jesus as real, and the truth will set you free.
You cannot study your way into salvation, you may pass a driver’s test, get a
license, that doesn’t make you a good driver. Or skilled, just licensed.
Legal. Knowing scripture will not save you, knowing Jesus personally will. So
who is teaching you about Jesus? Is it spirit led? Can you apply it? Does it
call you to repent and seek God? Or is it just religion 101....all the tests
without all the Jesus?
Duncan Dorris finally sold cars for 20 years, cars with his name on them,
made by his brother. High end cars, expensive cars, but lost his business due
to liability insurance, rather the lack of it. Accidents from cars he sold,
from the cars at the garage, and rather than face them all, shut down. The man
who had taught himself to drive, who had the first accident, who sold cars with
his name on them, just closed the doors. Rather than face the truth, he shut
down. Ever feel like that? Knowledge will let you down, wisdom only works when
obeyed. But Jesus never leaves us, in this life you will have tribulation, but
those who rise above trusting Jesus will persevere. Words cannot save, Jesus,
who is the word does. Next time you feel your test is unique, remember nothing
is unique to man, we are all sinners and need a savior. You can look for a
loophole or turn to Jesus. Just don’t take the turns too fast...just turn to
him, and adjust your speed. To his speed, and enjoy the ride. Every four
years I have to renew my license, once saved I never have to renew Jesus. His
mercies are new every morning, think I’ll go for a ride.
I rather be riding thinking of Jesus than in church thinking about riding.
His word written on my heart. You decide....I’ll ride.
love with compassion,
Mike
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspotcom