Thursday, December 29, 2005
Remember that old country song, "country road take me home." I think that's my wife's national anthem. We vacationed recently in the Ozark Mountains where she grew up and man does she have memories. Most of them are down some country road, unpaved, rutted, rocky, dusty, with a standard rear wheel drive vehicle. We sometimes end up in some situations that I'm not sure we'll ever come back from. I've noticed something on those roads. Everyone else we meet is driving a pickup truck with four wheel drive. I feel a little out of place, but anybody who lives where there are steep roads, rocky roads, muddy roads, snowy roads, should have a four wheel drive vehicle because all four wheels are working on getting you over something or out of something so you can go where others can't. You can go virtually on all kinds of terrain in all kinds of weather. And that feels good!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Four Wheel Drive Living."
Our word for today from the Word of God actually comes from my life verse in Romans 8:37. But, before we get to that, you have to hear the context. Paul talks about these things that have gone on in his life, "trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword." He's just talked about the worst terrain life has to offer!
If you're on a rocky or slippery road right now, it's probably covered in that list. Or whatever you're going through is nothing worse than what's on that list. Now, the response of someone who is living with spiritual four wheel drive, Romans 8:37, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Those guys going where I can't go on those back roads, I know what they feel like - conquerors! The Bible says here that we can live with four wheel drive conquering, actually, more than conquering those things that sink most people. But, how can you be an all-terrain, all-weather Christian, especially with the difficulties you're facing right now? Well, there are four secrets in Romans 8 to four wheel drive faith. First of all you know there's a perfect plan. Verse 28 says, "We know that in all these things God works for the good of those who love him." No matter how the road or the weather looks, you trust in God believing that this road is part of His great loving plan and that if it's a bumpy road it leads to something very beautiful.
Secondly, you count on inexhaustible resources. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" The one who loved you enough to send His Son to die for you will not ever abandon you, no matter how it may feel right now. Your fuel tank may run out, but His is inexhaustible. And when you can't go on, His fuel will still be coming.
The third secret to four wheel drive faith - you hang on to unloseable love. Romans 8:39, "Nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Others may not be willing or able to go with you on this road but you will not travel one mile alone. Jesus will never abandon you. He's there!
Last of all, you belong to an invincible Savior. Verse 31, "If God be for us who can be against us." We're more than conquerors through Him who loved us. You see, whatever is bigger than you are, Jesus is bigger than it is!
It's time that you shifted into four wheel drive for the bumpy or maybe even dangerous road ahead of you. You have a perfect plan, inexhaustible resources, unloseable love and an invincible Savior. Is there any road you can't handle? Is there any road where you cannot be more than a conqueror?