Drivers Training

by Rev. James Lewis, Ohio

Many times the “life lessons” that we learn while growing up; have more meaning embedded into them than what we realize.  Often I find myself thinking back to those times in my youth, and drawing from them new and fresh resources to live by.

How excited I was when I turned 16 years old.  I was now old enough to learn how to drive.  I could not wait until summer vacation started so I could take drivers training.  

I can still remember how I felt when I finally got behind the wheel of the drivers training car and headed out onto the highway.  I could follow the signs pretty well, how fast to go, when to stop, yield etc. 

However, the only thing I was having a problem with, was keeping the car straight in the middle of the road.  I would swerve to the left, and then to the right, my hands gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.  

No matter how tense I was swerving all over the road, my teacher remained cool and calm.  I thought if I were you lady, I would be afraid for my life, because I really do not know what I am doing!  She instructed me to let go of my death grip on the steering wheel, and just hold onto it gently. 

Then she said to me, “Look down the highway as far as you can see and fix your eyes on the center of the road, and not so much on what is going on around you”.  That was the best instruction she could have given to me, and it has helped me to this day to keep me from swerving off the road and ending up into a ditch.  

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience, (perseverance) the race that is set before us.  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Drivers who continually look to the right and to the left may well go into the ditch.  In addition, there are many things going on all around us today that try to get our attention. Satan is good at causing roadside distractions that tempt us to take our eyes off Jesus, and onto him. 

If he can get our attention by one thing or another, he may be able to get us off the path that we are traveling on and delay our spiritual progress.   

The Bible encourages us to put aside every weight and sin that delays and hinders us in the race that we are running.  Looking at those things that are going on around us, or putting our attention onto other things as we, travel down the road of life can cause us to swerve to the right and to the left, and before you know it; we end up in a ditch.

So often while traveling in my truck, I am amazed how distracted people are in their vehicles.  Some people while driving down the freeway at high speeds have one of their feet resting on the dash while they have earphones in their ears listening to music.  Others are busy eating and reaching for their drinks while they drive. 

I have seen women putting on make up and looking in their rear view mirror instead of looking at where they are going.  Others are distracted, by talking on their cell phone and texting their friends, and they have no idea of the danger that they are in as well as putting others at risk. 

So many people have been hurt, and even killed by people driving in their cars doing some of these things.

Therefore, I wonder, what are some of the things in our own spiritual life, that we have been “distracted” by while running this race.  Has it caused us to take our attention off the path we are following, to give heed to those things going on around us?  

Have we been tempted to turn our eyes off the center of the road to look at those other things that are going on around us, in the world today? 

1 John 2:15-16 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Because of my “life lesson” in drivers training so long ago, I am reminded today of what my Drivers Training teacher, “the Holy Spirit”, is telling me once again.

In this race of life that we are in, keeping our eyes stedfast upon Jesus is utmost important.  Jesus said; Follow me for I am the Way. 

We must be aware of the distractions going on around us, and not allow them to take our attention off the “center” of the road, which is Jesus Christ. 

To keep our eyes on Jesus.  He alone will keep you safe and bring you to your destination.

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