Road-Tested!

In 1983 my wife and I purchased a brand new Pontiac station wagon as her 1979 3^rd Generation Dodge Challenger was getting a little too small for our family’s growing needs.  It was a deep red, mid-sized Bonneville wagon… and of course, as per my wife’s pleasure, we eventually had it fitted with mags and wide, raised white lettered tires!  It was a sharp looking vehicle and except for a problem near the beginning our ownership, it gave us very good service for fifteen years when we purchased our new Suburban. 

During the first year though, we began to notice a problem.  To be honest, I really don’t remember all the details except that it had to do with the transmission and that it didn’t happen all the time, but was regular enough that it gave us great concern.  Since it was still under warranty, we brought the car in for service.  After a test drive and examination the mechanic reported that he could find nothing wrong with the vehicle.  Well, you guessed it… a few days after that we began to notice the problem again, so we brought it back to the dealership… again and again… with the same conclusion.

By this time our frustration was growing exponentially and we spoke directly to the dealership’s Service Manager.  We finally agreed to wait a few weeks until the regional service supervisor was scheduled to come to the Pontiac/Cadillac dealership. At that time we brought the car back in and went on another road test with him… and you know, within about five minutes into the drive he figured out what it was, had the service department replace the part and we never had the problem again!

I hadn’t thought about that experience for a long time until I read from 2 Samuel 22:31 in the Message Bible yesterday where it states, “What a God!  His road stretches straight and smooth.  Every God-direction is road-tested.  Everyone who runs toward him makes it.”  After reading this paraphrase of the verse, I thought about how our personal example shows what it is like to seek and then follow through with a plan or direction that Papa God gives you.  His ways are road-tested, but you have to travel His road with the right expert.  Not according to the way you or someone else may think is best.

We could have saved ourselves a lot of frustration and time if we had known about the regional service technician’s expertise in the first place!  Because the transmission’s problem tended to occur when the car was driving up a slight grade, they road-tested the car on the same stretch of country road (Petaluma Hill Road, for those of you who may know the area) with its twisting and turning and rolling hills every time.  That’s kind of like taking a leap of faith, hearing the Lord’s directions and then stepping out on your own to accomplish it… and having to do it over and over again until you get it right!

I can compare this to our journey over these last ten years.  We prayed and sought the Lord’s guidance, took His hand and held on tight while we ventured out on the path we believe He set before us.  And sure we've hit lots of twisting turns and rolling hills along the way… but we  have never allowed ourselves to be deterred from His process.  We discovered that it was like having the expert technician with us in the car the whole time!

2 Samuel 22:35 informs us of the results of this process saying, “He shows me how to fight; I can bend a bronze bow.” In other words, when you stay in touch with Him, on His path, you’ll end up getting stronger (instead of weaker) in the midst of the battle while fighting the good fight of faith and win!

When my wife and I got in the car with the regional service supervisor that day, our expectations were immediately boosted due to his confidence and knowledge of the internal workings of our new car.  At one point we glanced over at each other and nodded our heads in silent agreement thinking, “Finally… someone who knows what they’re talking about!”

I believe that this is how it is when you take God’s road-test with Him at the wheel of your life!  Along the way of your journey, in the midst of the winding twists and turns of the road, you’ll find yourself encouraged and strengthened in order to steadfastly face whatever is over the next hill in the road!

So… what am I saying?  It’s simple!  After seeking Him and getting His plan, don’t leave home without Him!  His directions are road-tested and He is the expert guide that will get you to your final destination in healthy, prosperous, peace and joy!

Have a great weekend.  With Piper’s various morning appointments this week, I’ve gotten off schedule with my blog posts, but we should be back to our normal Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule next week… unless the Lord has another side trip for us to travel on!  I encourage you to think about His expertise on the road-trip of your life, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Am I expecting God’s expertise while on my road-trip today?”