It occurred to me the other day that the way we drive a car tends to reflect the way we do life in general. The reckless teenage boy screams around the corner assuming he is all but immortal. The cautious elderly lady motors along a good ten miles below the speed limit. We really do tend to express our personalities by the way we drive.
So, what if they traveled by car in the first century? What if Jesus had entered Jerusalem in a Mustang convertible instead of on the foal of a donkey?
Let’s start with Paul. I picture him in an ambulance, screaming along at 120 miles per hour, passing through town after town with the life-saving message of the Gospel. He actually was quite a driven individual.
Peter, we might find pulled over by a car with red flashing lights. The patrol officer says, “You were going 70 in a 50 mile an hour zone. Peter says, “I did not!” “Yes, you did!” says the officer.” “It wasn’t me!” “Yes it was,” says the officer. To which Peter replies, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Then suddenly a song from Sheryl Crow begins to play on the car radio.
Clueless Philip, he would be the guy driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
You might find doubting Thomas arguing with his wife in the car. “Thomas the GPS says turn here!” “I don’t believe it,” he says.
Diabolical Judas, he would be the guy who bypasses the traffic jam by driving on the shoulder of the road. Ooh I detest that guy.
We might find the sons of thunder, James and John, duking it out over a parking spot.
And Jesus, well He might just pick up every hitchhiker He saw. And when they left His car He might say, “Go and hike no more.”
Goofy thoughts for sure, but it illustrates the fact that we express our personalities by the way we drive.
And I am ashamed to admit this – because my driving has often sent the wrong message. When I was a young Christian, there was a bumper sticker that was popular with believers. It said, “Honk if you love Jesus.” People assumed I was a passionate Christian because I honked all the time – but it was out of frustration rather than a love for my Lord.
I have been challenged by words like these in Titus 2:7-8. There Paul encouraged Titus to… “be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss because he has nothing evil to say about us.”
Titus was to be a good example in, “every way.” This surely would have included his driving habits! For him it possibly meant, “make sure you maintain a safe distance from the donkey ahead of you.”
For us it means to be polite on the road. If you are cut off don’t go racing after the perpetrator in rage. Yield that parking spot to the elderly man in the station wagon. Respect the laws including the speed limit.
Paul told him that a good example should especially permeate the way that Titus delivered the Gospel message. To do anything less would open the door to criticism and provide fodder for the Gospel foes.
Oh my! I know there were times when I had just taught a Bible study and then drove home in a way that tarnished the message I had just delivered. Sometimes I would honk at someone and then hope that they were not from my church.
Well, I am glad to say that as the Word of God has taken root in my life, I am far more patient and attentive to the rules of the road than I once was. I hope the same can be said of you.
A Prayer: Lord I know I’ll be tested again in this area. Help me to respond well!
This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com
May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always!
Scripture quotations are from the NETBible ®
Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson 