As of late, I have been driving (and riding) in a car a lot more than normal. In fact, by the time this week is over, I will have logged three round trips to Atlanta (3 hours each) and two round trips to Fort Stewart. (Those are difficult– 8 hours in a car and back without ending up anywhere that involves sandy beaches.)
Driving (and riding) in the car is great “think” time for me. Actually, the car and the shower are my top two places for blog epiphanies. As I was driving, I had one. Hence, today’s post.
When we drive, we are typically going somewhere. (Or at least I hope so.) And I don’t know about where YOU live, but traffic in these here parts can get a little… ridiculous. Apparently, speed limits are merely a suggestion. Pretty sure it is like that in most areas of the U.S.
Here’s my philosophy with speed limits. I like to hover right around the “5 mph over it” rule. Any less, I feel like I am going to get run over. Any more, I start seeing visions of triple digit speeding ticket fines. (Not from my experience. But you should ask my beloved about that one.)
Thus, I really love cruise control. I can set it at 75 and roll towards my destination. I once made the mistake of getting a rental car to drive from Jefferson City, MO to Wichita, KS that did not have cruise control. Bad idea. Longest. Trip. Ever.
I get in trouble when I don’t use cruise control on long, open stretches of highway. I start to go with the flow of traffic. Which can be very, very… fast. I am caught in the traffic flow, and before I know it, I am driving a good ten (or fifteen… or TWENTY) miles per hour over the speed limits. Sorry, officer.
Getting caught in the flow of traffic is a lot like living our lives with an earthly viewpoint. If we get right down to it, going over the speed limit is essentially breaking the law. And according to 1 John 3:4, sin is lawlessness. See the comparison? We live in a fallen world, one of sin, one where the people around us can influence us to “break the law” (aka sin) almost without our conscious knowledge.
But there is great news. We have God as our cruise control. He can be The One to set the pace. To direct our path. To bring us back when we are breaking the law. However, we need to remember that it is going to be difficult not to WANT to follow the flow of traffic. I tell you what– I get puh-lenty of dirty looks (and one-fingered waves) from driving only five over the speed limit from the speed racers that pass me by. The same is going to be true of those in our world who don’t understand how or why we would follow Christ.
The other positive point about Jesus Cruise Control? We don’t have to work as hard to maintain a constant speed. Sure, we still need to be conscious while driving, ready to stop or go at red lights, exits and bathroom breaks. But if we set our life cruise control with Jesus, He will help us avoid fluctuating speeds and arrive at our final destination in one piece–with minimal “traffic tickets.”
In what areas of your life do you struggle with not following the “flow of traffic?” Where are you challenged when it comes to following Jesus or following the world? I would love to hear from you. Comment below!
So the next time you are caught up in the flow of our worldly traffic, zig-zagging in and out of the lanes, ignoring that speed limit suggestion, tap your brake, slow down a smidge and set your cruise control with Jesus.
Cruising with Christ on the highway of life,
SGK
“Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is a breaking of the law.” ~1 John 3:4 (GNT)
