Tires

She had finally rolled off the treads, and it was time for new tires on Molly's car. Not a fun purchase, but certainly a needed one for safety.
A lady was in line behind me at the Costco tire center and one of her tires had a nail in it. I told Andrew, after he had closed out my order, that I was going to stand and watch how this guarantee deal really played out. Sure enough they would fix her tire for free and if it was too badly damaged, they would buy back the tire basing the buy back price on percentage of the tread that was good. All I would need is my Costco card and proof of purchase, and they would handle any tire repairs or replacements. We were good to go, for her new, balanced, rubber grippers were road ready.

This got me thinking about guarantees. They come with appliances, and cars, and tires and products and such. But what about life? No guarantees there. We are not guaranteed success, fame, health, children, safety, or even this day. But what we are guaranteed is: eternal life for all those who believe in Christ. The "in betweens" are just factors that play into the molding and growing of our characters, our personalities, our beliefs, our gifts, our attitudes, our mindset, our maturity, our ability to cope, our curiosity, our tenacity, and all the other things that make us who we are. But how good is that guarantee...can it be voided by behavior, or misconduct, or self interest over God interests? And what do I need as proof that I am entitled to it?

2 Corinthians 1:21-23
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

I don't know to much about theology. I simply have been taught and believe that Christ has enabled us to be an active participant of a present day relationship with God. One that serves us on this earth and enables us to cope, to be strengthened, to comfort, and be comforted, to acquire wisdom, to have grace poured upon us, to be loved and to love others back, and to be witnesses of and to the many blessings, miracles and majesty that we have seen in todays' times and have read about in yesterdays' times.

Paul mentions two gifts in the above passage that God gives when we become believers.
1) a seal that is: His Mark of Ownership, to show who our master is
2) the Holy Spirit who guarantees that we belong to him

The Holy Spirit guarantees that salvation is ours now, and that we will receive so much more when Christ returns. The great comfort and power the Holy Spirit gives in this life is a foretaste or down payment (first installation) of the benefits of our eternal life in God's presence. With the privilege of belonging to God comes the responsibility of identifying ourselves as his faithful servants.

Now back to these tires a minute....I have proof...a legitimate receipt that originated from the company who established the policy...that the guarantee on these new tires is warranted. Our guarantee of eternal life originated from the policy that Christ was created to fulfill. H eddied just as he was commanded to do. Proof is in his written word, the bible, that this who beleive in Christ will have everlasting life. No need for a ID card, God keeps untainted records.

A car cannot move on engine alone, for the wheels are essential to move the object from one place to another. Just as the wheels roll and uphold, so are we moved by the wheels that uphold us. Christ has guaranteed that the wheels that we each are appointed to have are functional according to his purposes. He stands behind his guarantee that we not only have everlasting life but until we reach our final destination, he will handle all the claims and make His best of what he has given us on this earth. The wheels of our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual capacities must be balanced, maintained and road ready for life. He is there at every interval to refill us, to repair us, and to replace our weakness with his strength. It is important to maintain that which we have been given and replace our worn and tattered attitudes and perspectives with new and fresh perspectives ones of Christ. For that Godly maintainance will help us to roll with a smoother and more balanced ride in life. The guarantee is valid, it is the in between that we have to maintain.

Tires, we have to maintain them, balance them, rotate them, replace them, or repair them if they are to dependable. The road is not always smooth but with good tires, we are able to make the adjustments to carry on through the rough rides. We drive, depending on the balanced pressure of four tires that withhold us. But we too are driven and have to allow God to manage the wheels on which we roll, rotate our thoughts, replace our perspectives, and repair our broken hearts and dreams for us to be able to move about in balanced accord.

Tire checks are good....for the car and for our lives as well. Four tires, four areas in life, when one is out of whack, it truly effects all the others. You up for God to check your tires! I am...for I need the continued maintenance.

Dear Lord, Uphold me in the four areas of my life so that I can be a reflection of you on the road that I travel. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!