Cars and Character

The other day I was reading an old sermon given by Charles Spurgeon that was very thought provoking. Spurgeon wrote about the power of the Holy Spirit. However, he created a whole new visual, a real manly visual, of how the Holy Spirit working in our lives parallels how cars and trucks are built. Those of you who know me will agree that I am a car and truck guy. This idea got me excited. I started to think about the cars that I love and would, if I had the money, fill my garage with.

My favorite car of all time has to be the 65 Chevelle Malibu SS. The hard body lines. The 327 motor. WOW! What a sweet car. Every time I see one, I have to at least do a double take. If I’m honest, I have even done u-turns to get a better look at times. Then there are the trucks I love. I love to see an old Jeep CJ7 that has been modified to handle the rigors of serious off road adventures. And, the original Dodge Power Wagon has to be one of the coolest trucks ever produced. As I think about these vehicles in light of my own life and my own character, I notice a couple parallels.

The first parallel I notice is that on average most of the vehicles I love have been worn out over a period of time. Most of them are older than I am, and the years and miles of life have worn out parts, worn down motors and even taken their toll on the body of the vehicle. This is something that I, and I am sure all of us, can relate to. As we go through life we get worn down. Jobs, finances, bosses, wives, kids and friends take their toll on us. The demands of life wear us down and sometimes wear us out.

The second parallel is when placed in the hands of the right person these great old vehicles can be restored to like-new or even better condition. I have seen what time and a good plan can do for a worn out 65 Malibu. My good friend is in the process of building an old Land Cruiser that will be sweeter than new when finished. I would like to think I could be restored in the same way. When I turn myself over to the Holy Spirit, He begins working His plan and using His skills to make my life and my character better than I can imagine.

The process of rebuilding a vehicle is not cheap or easy. It definitely is not pain free. I have had my share of vehicle projects take their toll on my knuckles. The same can be said for our lives and our character. It’s not an overnight process. It is not a cheap and easy fix. We have all seen examples of cars that have been patched together and called “restored”. The end result of that quick-fix project is not very rewarding, and the insides of the car still need further repair. The quick-fix vehicle doesn’t last or run like it should This is true for our lives, too. We can quickly put on a show and talk the talk, but does that amount of effort stand the test of time? If we want to be real men, the kind that stand strong for those around us; the kind our wives and children are proud to stand by, it takes time, dedication and sometimes hard and painful work. My hope and prayer is that, like me, you will commit to the process. Give yourself to the Holy Spirit and let Him work His wrenching magic in your life and character.  You just might turn out better than you ever thought possible.