The Road
The Road
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Yesterday i sat and thought about life a little bit. Well a lot actually like most days lately. I thought about how life has mirrored the roads I’ve driven on, who I’ve ridden with and what I’ve seen while on the roads.
Usually my wife does a lot of driving lately. And lately, while she drives, I do a lot of critiquing. Slow down, speed up, watch out and pay attention are all too familiar to her.
Yesterday was no different, except that I was a little quieter, but not much. I tried to appreciate her responsibility, her ability and to trust her skill.
My life, probably like yours, has been filled with bumpy roads, roads with obstacles to go around, detours, smooth roads, uphill roads, fast roads, slow roads and scary roads.
We have driven in the rain, in beautiful weather, have stood still in traffic jams, been pulled over and watched as others have driven recklessly. We spend a lot of time driving in our lifetimes.
This sounds all too familiar about my life and probably yours.
We’ve been worried for others as they make long trips, go short distances, learn to drive or have been out too late. Driving is a huge responsibility for us and for others. Driving not only worries the driver, but the passengers and the ones at home.
Nowadays driving has so many distractions. Cell phones ringing, passengers grabbing your attention, road rage and people that shouldn’t be driving at all.
No matter where you live, the roads we travel on are a lot alike. Some roads we are free to drive down the center, while most we must maintain our own lane. We have guidelines and rules we must follow. Stop before going. No faster than this. Merge here. Move over for this or that. These are just a few of the many rules we must obey when we are on the roads or behind the wheel.
The bumpy roads and bad weather aren’t avoidable sometimes. We just drive more cautiously, maybe a little slower so we can navigate correctly. Otherwise we risk damage to our vehicle or hurting someone.
We try to manage the distractions in order to stay in our lane. Some distractions are mild while others can be extremely dangerous.
We should avoid the bad drivers who try and purposely cause harm because they are angry, impatient or upset. Some of these drivers actions can have lasting results.
We should obey the rules of driving so that we can avoid judgement and punishment. Obedience to the rules will make our drive much more pleasant. Even if we have to drive in bad weather or on horrible roads.
Some roads are familiar to us and we drive on them everyday. However, we still don’t know what lies ahead. Remember, it’s important to keep your eyes on the road while you’re driving.
As Christians we lean on our relationship with God to get us through life. Our vehicle is like our relationship with God. We should properly maintain it (pray, go to church) so that it runs correctly and so it is reliable and dependable when we need it. We should replace equipment (repent) that might go bad. Keep the proper fluid levels (Bible reading/prayer) at all times.
The engine is the heart of the vehicle. It’s what keeps the vehicle running. Remember it’s not what’s on the outside. It’s the heart that matters.
So no matter what road you are on in your life, God is always here. Maintain your relationship with Him. Keep your life free of distractions. Keep your eyes focused on Him. Avoid the bad things in life. Love the people in your life.
You’ll hit potholes, have to swerve and maybe get pulled over while you drive. You’re car may even break down on you sometimes. Just remember this, you can always turn to God! Always. Put your faith and trust in Jesus. He’s the most dependable thing in your life.
Drive safely my friend.
“The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.”
Isaiah 26:7