God’s Limo
Jul 29th, 2008 by BradT
God’s Limo
Isaiah 46:3-4 (New Living Tranlation) “Listen to me, all you
who are left in Israel. I created you and have cared for you since
before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime
- until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care
for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
COMMENTARY:
I’ve often wondered if the famous “Footprints” story was inspired
by this beautiful passage in Isaiah. Here Isaiah is relaying
a message from God to His people reminding them that He is faithful.
God tells Israel that His committment to them is life long. It
started before they were born and it will continue long after
their hair has turned white with age.
APPLICATION:
Do you notice what I notice about this message of God to His people?
What I notice is that all the action taking place in this passage
is being done by God. “I created you”…..”I will be your God
all your life”……”
It’s as though God has sent a limousine to my house to carry me
through this world. He wants me to accept His invitation to get
in the limo and ride along with Him on the journey of life. He will
take me where I need to go. He will watch the road for potential
dangers and potholes and streer me around them. It sounds simple,
and it is - or it should be.
But I’m not content to stay in the backseat of God’s limo as a passenger
for very long. Some days I like to jump out at a traffic light and
run down some side street. I want to see for myself what’s down
there that He’s not showing me - I might be missing something.
But after a short time of running on my own, I become afraid and
wonder where God is, just as the Israelites did.
Some days I don’t feel like getting out of God’s limo, but I’m
not content to let Him drive. On those days, I like to hop up into
the front seat and wrestle the steering wheel away from Him so
I can drive myself around. I want to control my destiny and decide
for myself where my life should go. But after a few miles of driving
for myself, I become lost and confused, and usually end up in
a ditch.
All of us have an especially hard time turning over the reigns
of our lives to God. We are raised on the principles of indepence,
freedom, and the “self made man or woman.” We like to be tough
and do it our way. “Here’s my plan for my life Lord, you need to
bless it.” That’s how a lot of my prayers through the years must
have sounded to God.
God didn’t promise that the ride with Him would always be smooth,
but He did promise to carry us through the rough spots if we stay
with Him and let Him carry us. He promises the comfort and strength
we will need to survive the potholes in life, if we stay close
to Him and don’t question where He is taking us.
God says, “I made you, I will care for you, I will carry you along
and save you.” If we let Him.
