WHO'S IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT?

Hadley Baker

Like is full of different milestones—those markers on the road of life that let you know where you are on the journey. All of these serve as gradual reminders that we are growing up.  As a baby it might be learning to crawl.  As a young child it might be losing that first tooth (and cashing that sucker in to the tooth fairy…cha-ching).  Go a little further on the journey and it’s your first day of kindergarten, the first sleep-over at a friend’s house, or getting braces.  And of course we have to mention that oh-so-lovely stop on the journey known as puberty.  What a joyous adventure that is, right?  Like a man morphing into a werewolf (insert Twilight clip here), your body is going crazy as you bid farewell to the adolescent years.  Good times for sure, especially when it’s over.

But there is one milestone in life that trumps all the others hands down—getting your driver’s license! There is nothing like possessing that oh-so-coveted little piece of plastic with your picture on it that tells the world, “I am legal to drive…now get outta my way, people!”  I mean seriously, is there anything more exciting than getting behind the wheel of your vehicle for the first time?  And it doesn’t even have to be a nice vehicle LOL!  My first vehicle was a ghetto-fabulous four-speed 1984 Toyota pickup with 256,000 miles on it.  Not even kidding.  It was old, beat up, and smelled funky.  But I didn’t even care—it was better than riding my bike or having mom drop me off.  I drove that thing like a boss.  It was a stick shift, too, so driving around curves or corners was nothing short of spectacular.  I would punch the gas hard and then shift it to the next gear.  Those NASCAR dudes didn’t have nothing on me.  I was behind the driver’s seat and life was good.

Some of you reading this already have your license and you know exactly what I am talking about.  It feels good to be behind the wheel.  If you are like I was, you are constantly begging your parents to let you drive.  We like to be behind the wheel, don’t we?  It’s in our nature.  We like being in control.  While this may not be the biggest deal when it comes to driving, it can sure get us in trouble in our relationship with God. 

One of Jesus’ toughest commands is found in Matthew 16:24: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  That word “deny” is a butt kicker, especially when you understand who it is we are denying—ourselves!  I don’t know about you, but this is hard for me.  I don’t like telling myself no.  I want what I want, when I want it.  Can you relate?  And yet the Christian life requires us to daily surrender our wants, desires, and preferences to Jesus.  He has made it clear: HE is in charge.  He commands us to follow him, not the other way around. He is God, we are not.  He makes the calls, we do not.  Look at how this verse is worded in The Message:

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.”

Jesus makes no apologies for demanding our everything.  He doesn’t negotiate the terms of being his disciple.  He calls us to total surrender.  So let’s be clear about something: if you are going to be Jesus’ disciple it will COST you something.  Denying yourself and letting Jesus steer your life has a price tag.  It may mean deleting certain music off your phone because you realize it is offensive to the Holy Spirit who lives inside you.  It may mean breaking up with a guy or a girl because you realize they are pulling you away from God.  It may mean feeling like an outsider because the “cool kids” distance themselves from you.  Following Jesus for real is not easy, but man it’s worth it!  God has promised us a home with him in heaven for all eternity.  This world is fading away, guys.  It will not last forever, but our home in heaven will.   “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” (1 John 2:17)

May you be reminded afresh today of Jesus has promised those who live for God.  Letting Jesus in the driver’s seat is the wisest thing you and I will ever do.  Not only does he promise us heaven in the life to come, but he assures of an incredible life here on earth (see John 10:10).  So today I want to ask you—who is in the driver’s seat?