“One of my neighbors told me about a big problem he once had with a car. On the one hand, it was kind of a funny story, on the other, not so much.”
“What was gong on?” I asked.
“It was something that happened a few years ago,” Stan replied. “My neighbor had leased one of those hybrid things that run partly on gas and partly on electricity from batteries that are constantly being recharged while the car is being driven.”
“Those can be quite efficient,” I commented.
“More so when they work right!” Stan said with a smile.
“His didn’t work right? What happened?”
“It wouldn’t stay turned off. He would park it in the garage only to discover a few minutes later that it had started back up all by itself. He would go turn it off and the same thing kept happening.”
“That will take a big bite out of the efficiency!” I replied. “Was he able to get it fixed?”
“He was,” Stan replied, “but the dealer had to replace the entire electrical system which was beyond getting fixed and had to be replaced.”
“That must have cost a bundle. Was it under warranty?”
“It was,” Stan replied, “so my neighbor didn’t have to pay anything, but he was quite annoyed with the whole experience. Just like I am when that happens with my faith walk?”
“What do you mean? How does this apply to your faith walk?”
“When my sin car won’t stay dead.”
“Sin car?” What’s that?”
“That’s when the new life I’m riding around in is affected by the old life that just won’t stay dead. It just keeps starting all by itself after I think I have it turned off.”
“How do you get that fixed?” I asked.
“Replace the whole thing. Get rid of the old and replace it with the new.”
“Is it covered by a warranty?” I asked.
“Sure is!” Stan exclaimed. “Eternal warranty for when my time here is done, along with a lifetime warranty for this side. I just need to take it to the right place to get it fixed!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4.
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of freedom in Christ through His finished work on the cross. Thank you for the new life I have in and through His life, death, and resurrection. Too often I do not manifest the new life you intend because I choose to walk my own way apart from you. That’s not what I want, and I know it’s not what you want. Please help me to follow every step of your lead into an ever-deepening personal relationship with you where the old life stays dead and the new life in Christ is manifested. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: It’s often difficult to keep the old life with its sin nature dead. Do you agree with that? Why or why not? Is there a remedy for keeping the sin nature dead so it doesn’t keep starting itself in our lives? If so, what is it? Is that something you would like for your life? Can you do it on your own? Do you know how it can be the core of your life?
Waiting for the Train 