Do I trust Jesus?
As I was pulling up behind a car at a stop light yesterday, a thought really hit me. Why, because twice the day before two cars stopped suddenly in front of me and as I slammed on my brakes, everything in the front and back seats went flying into the floor. My brakes worked, thankfully, and so did those behind me. But as I was approaching the one yesterday, I was overcome by this question.
Do I trust Jesus with my every day and eternal life as much as I trust my brakes? I don’t know the guy who installed them at the factory, and while I know the guy that has replaced them several times, how do I really know they will work well when I most need them? I know very little about brakes, do you? But we trust our lives, others and our family’s every day; actually, countless times to a set of front and rear brake systems. Not counting those behind us all day long.
The past
While I was pondering it for a short moment, I drifted off to all the things in my past with which Satan tries to disable me. Just like I could have slammed into those other cars and caused injury, he does the same thing with our past failures and slams us with them. I think for many believers, our past is one of the most significant issues we face.
I was at the ROD breakfast this morning listening to a few newly released men who have been incarcerated. One shared that he served 37 years for robbery and homicide. He appealed a death sentence and the jury awarded a life sentence. He is now free, and he stated that while he is not proud of his past, he has, through Christ, put those things behind him so he may move forward. I was reminded of Paul’s comments in Philippians.
“Not that I have already obtained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (vss. 12-14 NKJV).
Spiritual faith
Our brakes serve one purpose while driving, but our faith in the finished work of Christ serves us now and for eternity. Satan wants to do damage to your faith. Your brakes are manual—your faith is spiritual. One works on the outside for you—the other dwells within you. “Because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I Jn. 4.4b NKJV). Satan is no match for our Savior. Your trust in the work on the cross assures you victory.
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn 10.10 NKJV). The next time you use your brakes, remember how loved and safe you are in Christ. Brakes may fail you at times, but he never will. Count on it!
