Who is driving your car?
Imagine for a moment that you have decided to buy a car. Rather than head off down the London Road to one of the many car dealers, or one of the used car supermarkets at Lakeside, you decide to visit the massive Toomey dealership on Cherry Orchard Way to look at new cars.
When you arrive the shining exteriors and technical brilliance of the new cars are hard to resist. You spot one car and it just blows your mind with all of the add-ons it comes with. Parking sensors, DVD player, and electric seats. This car does not just have cup holders – it has a built in coffee machine.
The car is amazing, but it has one unalterable deficiency. It will only function if it has an intelligent driver behind the wheel. Without a driver, this car is just something to look at. If you pushed it down a steep hill without a driver behind the wheel, it would careen down the hill, damaging anything in its path until it finally crashes.
As humans, we function best when we let God be in the driving seat. Maybe our pride does not like it, but we need to be led and directed in life by having a close connection with our Lord. Every one of us at some time of our life has chosen to shove God out of the driver’s seat.
Which of these statements best describes where you are now?
- I have given God the wheel and He is driving my life’s car.
- God has the wheel, but I have my foot on the brake.
- I am behind the wheel and occasionally ask for directions.
- I would like to ask God for direction.
- I find it best to drive with a blindfold on and fingers in my ears.
From childhood, we are taught to “Do it ourselves”. We live our lives with a desire to be independent. Even as Christians we are often guilty of wanting to be the one in control, “Don’t drive me God, I want to drive myself”.
Are there specific situations where you find yourself trying to rationalise a decision or try to handle a problem in your life, without reference to God, God’s Word or God’s will?
Someone described trying to live life without God being “as stupid as holding your breath because you are upset you need to breathe”. If we cut ourselves off from the source of divine love and power, it is like cutting a tree off its roots. A car needs a driver; a tree needs roots; we need air and we need God.
In the book Joy Unspeakable, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones quotes the psychiatrist Carl Jung as someone who unexpectedly agreed that we all need God: “Those psychiatrists who are not superficial have come to the conclusion that the vast neurotic misery of the world could be termed a neurosis of emptiness. Men cut themselves from the roots of their being, from God, and then life turns empty, inane, meaningless, without purpose, so when God goes, goal goes, when goal goes, meaning goes, when meaning goes, value goes, and life turns dead in our hands”
When God, “the root of our being,” takes the wheel of our car, starts the engine, revs the motor, steers it in the right direction, and feeds us the right amount of fuel, life does not turn dead in our hands.
Why do we often find it difficult to beleive that God will always guide us on the best road and in the wisest direction?
The prophet Jeremiah put it this way in Jeremiah 33:2-3: ‘This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it – the LORD is his name: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”’
The call from God has not changed, He is still interested in the details of our lives, even in the small things He offers help. The promise of Exodus 33:14 is ours: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you life”.
“Now, here is my secret: I tell it to you with an openness of heart that I doubt I shall ever achieve again, so I pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. My secret is that I need God – that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love.”
Douglas Copeland, Life After God,
What is God like?
We accept that we need God, if we need God then we need to know about Him. We need to know who God really is.
We need to separate truth from fiction, and there is a lot of fiction that is accepted as fact. Go into any bookshop today and you will find many opinions that could not be further from the truth. Some say God is just an impersonal force, a ball of fire, and we are the sparks. Others see God as a celestial Santa Claus. Without a clear description, God would be little more that our own construction or imagination.
As Christians we do not need idle guesses, we have a certainty of who God is, and who we are in relation to Him. Let’s consider some of the basics.
God is a Person
God is not a force or a puff of smoke. He has personality, mind, heart and Spirit. The all-powerful Creator is real, alive and approachable and He is waiting for us to call on Him. Isaiah 58:11 promises that “the LORD will guide you always”. Jesus also invites us into personal relationship with Him, Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to me… for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”.
God reveals Himself
Can you think of some of the ways that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us?
The created world - God can be seen as a superb artist in the magnificence of His created world and the complexity of our physical bodies. I am amazed by the structure of the eye, marvel at the structure of my bones. Looking around I can see the ingenious designer responsible for the design.
The Bible - God revealed Himself specifically to the writers of the Bible. He used their individual personalities and skills as authors or poets, and they were used to record the thoughts of God. God unveiled His character and His will to them. God instructed them how to live right before Him.
The Voice of God - The Bible, our source of truth, gives numerous examples of God regularly interacting with people.
There are examples of God speaking directly to people, teaching them, comforting them, and bringing light into their lives. God even told people that He had plans for them, Jeremiah 29:11: “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. God gave national help, intervened in government and directed individuals. God brought Elijah to victory when enemies challenged the nation’s faith in God. God gave Job strong fortitude and deep spiritual insights when trouble came. Isaiah gives a moving expression of God’s initiative and care for his people in Isaiah 63:9: “In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”
We see the ultimate expression of God’s love in the sending of Jesus Christ to earth to communicate to us, “that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).
God is Love
How is God’s love demonstrated?
God loves each of us personally. Motivated by love, he reaches out to connect with each of us as individuals. The love of God should draw us to Him. Jesus told us that God knows the number of hairs on each of our heads and cares about our deepest needs. The Bible is also clear when it says that God’s love endures forever. God does not abandon us when we face temptation; God cares about what we do with our lives. Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning”.
God’s love is also demonstrated in His actions.
The Old Testament persistently presents the covenants and protection for those who call out to God. The New Testament records detailed accounts of the fulfilment of God’s promises and actions in sending Jesus Christ, His Son. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son”. There are many examples of God’s love in action.
“Through the Son, God made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory. He is the exact representation of God’s being. He sustains all things by His powerful word.” Hebrews 1:2,3
“He is the One and Only, who has made God known.” John 1:18
God’s love is stronger than fire and destruction, and even in the valleys of deepest darkness, His rod and staff are put into our hands and bridges are thrown across the abyss.”
H Thielicke, Living Quotations for Christians
God is Holy
What does it mean when we say that God is holy?
It is not easy to fully comprehend God’s holiness. God’s nature is without flaw. His instructions, His laws are for our benefit, solely for our good.
Our world is shattered by senseless and vicious acts of evil that defy explanation. “God, why?” we ask.
A simple answer is that God has given each of us the dignity of choice: to follow God’s path or to defy the Lord and choose to follow our own way.
All of us expect people to be honest with us.
Our own standards tell us to feel justified when we judge or punish a terrorist or a murderer.
We might forgive ‘white lies’ or cheating the tax man and feel no guilt about it, but deep down we know little sins can become big ones; a second lie is often needed to cover up a first lie, and then lying can become a habit. Jesus said all of us need to learn God’s standard of holiness and understand our need for forgiveness. God’s holiness is for our benefit and our sin separates us from Him.
If a child plays with a box of matches and we take them away - if they then get upset about it, would we worry about being fair?
The child may cry and complain, but we know we have taken the correct action. We have a desire to protect the child. In the same way God desires to keep us safe – He knows exactly where the line needs to be drawn. Many people think God will weigh the good things they have done against the bad. As Christians we know that is not the case. God is 100 percent perfect. The entry criteria for heaven is 100 percent perfect. Heaven is without evil thought, word or deed. Humanly speaking you may be better than someone else, but other people are not what we are measured against. Thank God that Jesus is perfect in our place! God’s holiness is fat above ours – total, unflawed goodness. When we understand His character, His holiness is a comfort.
Do you want a deeper connection with God?
Do you need God to help you understand Him more? Pray to Him, ask Him to help you.
Our focus in the coming studies will be on how to help us make a deeper connection and grow closer in our personal relationships with God. There is no better or greater relationship that we could enjoy – no greater joy awaiting us. As G.K. Chesterton said “Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”
For personal reflection:
1. With reference to God, do you tend to emphasise external conduct or internal relationship?
2. Jesus said “It’s what’s inside, in the heart, that matters”, what most often fills your heart?
3. Why should God’s holiness be a comfort to you?
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
