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Cash for Clunkers And The Road Less Traveled

8/08/2009   

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)

In all my life, I never thought I would see a rush to car lots to receive government rebates of up to $4,500 for their clunkers. Who can blame them? It’s the only way so far that I have seen the federal government get some of its massive bailout in the hands of everyday Americans. In less than 2 weeks, almost $1 billion has been handed out, and Congress just approved another $2 billion.

All this being said, the money will soon dry up and car lots will return to the recession that still looms behind the mad rush to their dealerships. The message here: It will not last.

Aren’t you glad Christianity does not behave by the same rules? We can run to the Cross and be forgiven for our sins, and never have to worry whether our sins will outrun God’s forgiveness. It’s a done deal…forever!

One of my greatest regrets in life is that I did not come to know Jesus earlier than I did. Many of the mistakes and bad turns I made could have been avoided, but then, I would not have had the life experiences that have helped me to appreciate my salvation as much as I do. I guess it proves the point that God’s timing is perfect.

It’s strange what can be said that actually make the difference in someone’s decision to seek salvation. In my case, I had a hard time believing that I could be forgiven for the sins I had committed, not to mention all those sins that I would commit in the future. In short, I just did not believe the weight of my sin could really be carried by someone else.

Many of you know that it was my wife who led me to the Cross. What she said to me in response to this question made its way through the doubt. “So what if I am wrong,” she told me. “What have you lost by believing something that wasn’t true? You will have lived a better life, one that will show great character; one that your children will look back on and respect you for.”

I did not have great faith during my first moment of confession. But I did have enough faith to take the chance that all she had been saying to me might be right. It may have been just a glint of faith, but in that moment I believed my prayer and Jesus rushed in to my heart. Today, my faith is strong and great. I’m sure glad I made the decision I did, when I did.

I ran across a poem the other day. It was written by Robert Frost in 1920 and speaks for me about the decision I made – a decision to travel a road less traveled.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Aren’t you glad you made the decision to follow Christ? Unfortunately, there are many who choose to believe that all you have to do go to heaven is die. They are in for big surprise. The “way” that Jesus mentioned in John 14:6 is still the only way. It may be a road less traveled, but it will make all the difference!

posted by Mike Ruffin on 8/08/2009