Cars, GPS, Our Lives, and God

Our lives and our bodies are like cars, and we are the drivers and God is the navigator. In operating the vehicle of our lives, we often fall to either side: we either demand control of not just the steering wheel, but we want to choose where to go, how fast, and how to get there. Or we get to a point where we’re so lost, or so wrecked, or so out of control, that we finally recognize our error and say, “Jesus take the wheel.” I think we can err here as well. I think we must still grab a hold of that wheel, except we now follow the directions of our perfect GPS, God the Father (voices may vary from booming to a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-13) and with different accents.) I think this is a clearer picture of our relationship with our human bodies, lives, and with Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Without Jesus, when we made a mistake or missed a turn, there would be no “make a u-turn.” We would forever have to take the errant path straight to hell. However, Jesus’ death is like a perpetual “recalculating route” as we are rerouted back to Heaven. The way is different than when we first started, after our wrong turns, yet our current way is now the most direct. We don’t have to drive 1000 miles back to where we first erred if God has made a way, a jumpover that is only a few miles back to the original, or a road that has no overlap with the original but is now the most direct path to Him and Heaven. Embrace the recalculated route. First we must realize that we have strayed, or we’ll never listen to the good directions. Then we must obey those directions. God is like the ultimate master map program that literally knows every route and waypoint without fail. Jesus’ death and resurrection makes forgiveness of error and sin possible so God ordains a recalculation. And the Holy Spirit is that voice that is with us in our vehicles (our bodies) to give every subtle or major direction. Put your hands back on the wheel and drive. But this time listen to your perfect, all powerful, all knowing, always loving master GPS. Are you willing to listen and wanting to turn up the volume? Prayer is your volume button. Turn it all the way up and ”pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess 5:17) Amen.