No! Not my brand new car!

 

 

 

About a year and a half ago, my husband and I decided it was time to get me a new car.  We conducted all the research on different options and after a few months of going back and forth, we decided on the type of car I would get.  And no, it's not a Mercedes Benz.  I just thought this was a really cool image to add to make the blog post more colorful :-).  But the car we chose was really nice and pretty much does everything except drive itself.  At least in my mind.  I just knew I had it all going on.

 

For the first year or so, I've been the primary driver of this vehicle and quite frankly, up until recently had become a real pain to deal with when it came to my car.  I didn't want anyone touching it.  I would give the auto detail professionals the hardest time when it came to washing it.  Watch this.  Be careful with that.  On and On.  If the kids got too close, while playing outside I'd have a FIT.  They couldn't eat or drink anything in the car and I'd put down extra towels over the car mats to reinforce my cleanliness standards.  It got so bad that my youngest child started preferring to ride in my husband's car.  Of course, he tried to speak to me about this and explain that he sensed I was going a bit overboard as it pertained to my car.  I didn't want to hear any of it.  And even though I didn’t want to hear it, I could hear a quiet still voice telling me my husband was right...that I was getting too carried away.

 

My justification was always, "Well, when you work hard, you want to keep your stuff as nice as possible for as long as you can."  When really what I was doing was justifying the fact I was worshipping this earthly possession.  My precious car.

  

So watch this.   

 

I remember dropping the kids off at school one morning and then returning to my home to get dressed and prepared for work.  It was one of those kind of mornings…I felt well organized.  This was going to be a great day. 

 

I opened the garage door and got into my car.  I had my favorite worship music blasting and was backing out, when I noticed the garage seemed to be getting dark again.  By then it was really too late to react.  The garage door smashed down on the top of the car.  The garage door completely bent over and for the next few minutes the medal from the bottom part of the garage door gripped and scratched and tugged at the top of the car.  We later found out the sensors were faulty and the door consequently came down at a time when it clearly shouldn’t have.  A part of the garage door bent down over to the driver’s side of the car causing major damages to that side as well.  I managed to get myself out.  Thankfully, we had insurance to cover most of the damages and only had to pay our deductible.

 

For the next few minutes, I just sat there on the garage door steps and remember thinking, “Did this really just happen to me?  To a brand new car?”  A good portion of the car I loved (worshipped) so much was destroyed.  Just like that. 

 

Here’s my point:

 

I am happy to report I ended up repenting and asking God to forgive me for placing so much importance and emphasis on things.  Things that clearly, as was in my case, can be here today and then snatched up and demolished in a split second.  I can laugh and discuss it now.  It certainly wasn’t funny then, but I believe with all my heart God allowed this to happen to me.  He had to – to bring me back down to a place where I could be reached.  I recall thanking God and reflecting on how it could have been one of my kids, getting snagged under the garage door. 

 

The good news was, I was not harmed.  Not one scratch anywhere.  Just mostly shook up.  And of course both the car and the garage door were repaired back to look brand new.

 

But the best news was, I got set free from the spirit of idolatry – worship of an idol or a physical object as a representation of a god. 

 

So is it a sin to have nice things?  Does this mean we shouldn’t take care of the things God has blessed us with? 

ABSOLUTELY NOT.  However, the bible makes the point very clear that if and when those things become a higher priority than God (first and foremost) and then family…things that should matter the most.  There lies the problem. 

 

Scripture:

 

Matthew 16:26 (NIV)

 

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

 

Now your turn:

 

I challenge you today to think on something money can’t buy.  Let’s start off with God.  There’s no debating it…no amount of money can pay for the love God has for us.

 

What about purpose in life?  Knowing your purpose?  Quality time with your family?  Wisdom?  A second chance in life?  Peace in the world?  These are just a few examples to get the creative juices flowing. 

 

As always, I welcome your comments and would love for you to share them in open forum.  However, you can send them to my Facebook Message Inbox or you don’t have to comment at all.  Whatever you are comfortable with. 

 

Maybe you know someone (a friend or relative…maybe a co-worker) who can benefit from this blog post.  Feel free to share. 

 

Blessings,

T.K. Farmer

 

Copyright 2015

 

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