“Did you see that little car parked down at the corner of Fifth Street?” Stan asked.
“No,” I replied. “I came from the other direction. What did you see?”
“I don’t know what it is,” Stan responded, “but it’s a little tiny car that seems to be built for only one person, the driver.”
“Probably gets real good mileage,” I said, “but sounds like it could be dangerous in heavy traffic or out on the freeway.”
“Sure does,” Stan replied, “but not as dangerous as I was reminded about when I was looking at it.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Having room for only one in that little car, ” Stan said, “reminded me there’s only room for one in the driver’s seat of my life, and that it’s very dangerous for me if God is not the one I choose to have in the driver’s seat.”
Continuing, he said, “If I’m the one I put in the driver’s seat of my life, the one in charge of what I do, where I go, and the like, I am proceeding dangerously.”
“What about those bumper stickers that say something like, ‘God is my co-pilot’?” I replied.
“Bad theology,” Stan said. “I don’t think God is to be my co-pilot. He is to be the pilot; I get to ride along with Him.”
Continuing, he added, “When I accepted the finished work of Christ on the cross it was settled for all time the question of where I’m going when my time here is completed, but that’s not the end of the story.”
“No,” Stan said, “there’s the whole question of why God has left me on this side of eternity while I wait for the train. And I can assure you, my friend, God has not left me here to be in the driver’s seat!”
“Would you say it’s kind of like the first step of discipleship,” I replied, “the part about denying self by not being in the driver’s seat?”
“Not ‘kind of like’,” Stan said. “Exactly like!”
And then he concluded, “If I am to be in God’s eternal presence when my time here is done, I am to be God’s on this side of eternity. None of this stuff about me sitting in the driver’s seat or having God as my co-pilot! There’s room for only one, and that one is not to be me.”
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I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20.
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, . . . . Luke 9:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the assurance of salvation through the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross. Thank you I can look forward to spending eternity with you when it’s time. Thank you, too, for the presence of your Holy Spirit in me to lead, counsel, and help me in being who and doing what you intend while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often it is myself, rather than you, who I place in the driver’s seat of my life. Please forgive me. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead in choosing to have only you as the One who is in the driver’s seat. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Who is in the driver’s seat of your life? Who do you think God wants to be in that seat? If God is not in that place in your life, do you want Him to be? Why or why not? Do you fear not being in control of your life? Why or why not? What would it look like for you to give total control of every aspect of your life to God’s leading so He is truly the only One in the driver’s seat? Do you want that? If so, do you know how it can happen?
Waiting for the Train 