Mr. Walters had been having trouble for some time with his car stalling, so he had a mechanic take a look at it. The mechanic suggested setting the idling speed a little faster, which he did. It seemed to help, so Mr. Walters thought his troubles were over.
A few days later Mr. Walters tried to start the car, but now there was a new problem. When he turned the key he heard a click, but it would not start. He suspected a loose battery connection, so he wiggled the battery cable. The car still wouldn’t start. He tried this several times, and each time he turned the key nothing happened. Being fed up with the problem and not expecting the car to start, he became careless. He tapped the battery terminal, reached through the opened door and turned the key... without getting in.
To his amazement and horror the car not only started, but it began to move backwards... with no one inside to steer it or turn it off! It nearly knocked him down, and because of the fast idling speed that had been set it was picking up speed. The runaway car was headed toward several cars on the street, but because it was going backwards the front wheels turned and caused it to go around in a circle.
It missed the cars and came back toward Mr. Walters’s house. It looked as though the car would crash into the dining room at first, but it made a tighter turn. Missing the dining room, it hit the front steps, just missing Mr. Walters and the huge tree in the front yard.
By now Mr. Walters was in a state of panic. The car swung around three times, each time clipping the front entryway and the steps. It seemed like it would be an endless horror, but finally the car swerved in a different direction, causing it to jump the curb and slam into the big tree.
In addition to damaging the steps, the opened door of the car was torn off and the rear of the car was destroyed when it hit the tree. However, through the Lord’s care no one was hurt, and the damage to the house was not as bad as it could have been.
Allowing sin in our lives is like starting a car without a driver. The car in this story was out of control, and no one knew when or where it was going to stop. It could do great damage and harm, possibly even causing death or permanent injury.
You see, boys and girls, sin can and does do great harm. Because God is holy, He hates sin and must punish it. God warns us that “the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
Yes, God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. That is why He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into this world to die for sinners. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
God not only wants to wash you from your sins, but He wants you to let Him control your life so that you will live for Him and be happy.
Won’t you ask Jesus to wash your sins away and let Him be in control of your life?
ML-02/21/1988