Let's Do It Again, and Again and Again!

You're gonna like this!



My friend Tyson Shaw showed me this hillarious video last night. What struck me was the amazing object lesson. Observing the pranked, cursing and threatening car salesman's quick and total attitude adjustment once he realized the driver wasn't a two-faced old man endangering both of their lives, but one of the most decorated NASCAR drivers in history is telling. It gives us perspective for when our own lives seem way out of control. When his rage turned to delight, he actually asked if they could do it again. I'm sure the second round was much more pleasurable.

Why is it that we hate the feelings that come when we fear an epic fail or total destruction but we love theme parks? Though roller coasters reach speeds higher than we are legally able to drive, and flip and turn, and rattle our brains, we see people get on and we see them get off with smiles on their faces. We know Jeff Gordon has driven souped Chevy's around the raceway thousands of times at much higher speeds than he test drove that Camaro. We know it's safe enough to enjoy over and over again.

Jesus is better at directing our lives than Jeff Gordon is at driving race cars.  He can also design better thrill rides than Werner Stengel. We hear testimonies of the miracles He performs in response to prayer and can see the awe inspiring account of His abilities anytime we read the Bible or take time to gawk at the beauty of nature.

But sometimes we experience moments that don't occur to us as a good idea. Jeremiah even said that God deceived and overcame him to make him do the prophetic ministry in Jeremiah 20:7. Just six verses later he says, "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evildoers," in Jerermiah 20:13 NASB. In the very next verse he goes on to curse the day he was born. So if you ever feel like you are back and forth with your feelings about how God drives when He's behind the wheel in your life, you're in good company with a prophet who probably followed God's direction more than most.

The wise king Solomon said to, "[t]rust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge [H]im and [H]e will direct your paths.," in Proverbs 3:5,6 NKJV. He wasn't famous for doing what God said, but he too knew what was true. If we put our faith in God, we will have no regrets in the end.  

As the parable by Morris Venden below teaches, God will let us take back "control" of our lives at any point. But after driving ourselves into the ditch time and time again in contrast to His sovereign navigation skills displayed with every obstacle and trial we allow Him handle, I pray that we will repeatedly plead for Him to take over. Let's do it again, and again and again. He'll always say, "yes, let's."

 

2 Chronicles 20:1-30

-Nick