Sharon had just finished lunch and gotten back into her car in the crowded parking lot. She turned to see if she could back out safely and saw a worried-looking elderly woman standing behind the car.
Sharon opened her window and offered, “May I help you with something, ma’am?”
“Oh, no. I’m fine. I parked my car somewhere here. I just need to find it.”
Although the woman’s answer made it sound as if there were no problem, the look on her face clearly told that she was deeply troubled.
“Perhaps,” Sharon offered again, “I could drive you around the parking lot until you find your car.”
“No, that won’t be necessary,” she replied without hesitation, but after a short pause she changed her mind and got into the passenger seat beside Sharon.
“If you tell me what your car looks like, I will help you look for it,” the younger woman told her as she slowly cruised the parking lot.
“Oh, my! I am not at all sure” was the sheepish response. “I think it is a silver Buick! ”
Growing old and making the transition from being self-sufficient to becoming dependent on others for assistance is a change that most people make great efforts to resist. Just for a moment, consider another area of life where this resistance to acknowledging our need is remarkable. This has to do with the salvation of our souls. The Bible says, “When we were yet without strength . . . Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)). Each one of us is absolutely without strength when it comes to producing some righteousness which will make us acceptable to God. It is only when people see themselves as sinners without strength to please God that they turn to the Saviour.
The Lord Jesus died on the cross. He paid the ultimate penalty for sins. He did it for real sinners who had no possibility of saving themselves. People don’t like to think of themselves as helpless creatures who need a Saviour God. This is their loss! For sinners who were marred and scarred by sin the Lord Jesus has provided a perfect salvation. It will take eternity for the riches of this salvation to unfold, but God gives it freely to all those who believe on the Lord Jesus.
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:1717For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)). Notice that it is not man’s righteousness that is talked about here. It is God’s righteousness. That is, it is righteousness suited to His holy nature. And it is revealed to those who have faith, and by faith we share in it. What a wonderful thing to take the place of a needy sinner and then to accept the truth that God sent His Son into this world to save sinners!
After the two women had driven around the parking lot for several minutes, traveling at a snail’s pace, they spotted a silver Buick.
“Is that your car?” Sharon asked.
“I’m not sure” was the uncertain answer.
“Why don’t you see if the key fits?”
With that the older woman got the keys out of her purse and went to the car and tried the key in the door. The key did not fit. She returned forlornly to the passenger seat of Sharon’s car.
“Look, why don’t I drive you to the other section of the parking lot? Maybe your car is there.”
“No, it can’t be there. I didn’t have any business there.”
“Well, what stores did you go to?”
A pained expression passed over the face of the other woman. Now thoroughly confused, she could only say, “I don’t remember.”
“Then let’s try the other parking lot.”
As soon as they drove into the adjacent parking lot they saw another silver Buick.
“I think that’s my car,” she said hopefully. This time when she tried the key in the door the key fit, the lock turned, and the door was open. It was her car. After saying good-bye, the two parted.
The key didn’t fit in the door of the first silver Buick. Isn’t this like a lot of people who think that the way to unlock God’s favor is by trying to find some good thing in themselves? But it’s not the way, and all they can do is to open up themselves to lots of disappointment. The real key to finding happiness and God’s favor is recognizing that you are a lost sinner and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of sinners. This is the key that will open up the treasures of God’s grace. Won’t you let Him save you today?
“Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners.”
1 Timothy 1:15