The Ultimate Driving Experience

A generous benefactor gave two men identical super-expensive luxury sports cars. They each looked around their new cars inside and out and quickly saw they were fully loaded with more bells and whistles than they could ever have imagined. Safety features, amenities, gadgets, and major cool stuff. But these cars were not at all like their old ones and everything was very different. These vehicles didn’t feel natural to either one of them.

The benefactor told the men one thing—“The owner’s manual is in the glove box. I strongly recommend you read it to know how to use the car. After all, I gave it to you for free and it costs me a lot so it would be great for you to get the full use out of all the features to honor the gift.”

One guy thinks to himself, “Well, I know how to drive a car so I’ll check out the manual later when I have time.”

The other man decides he’s going to start reading a section of the manual every morning before he gets in his car to drive it, to get familiar feature by feature.

The first man finds himself every day just getting in the car but can’t figure out how to turn on any music, set the cruise, or even work the windshield wipers. This car is very different than anything he’s ever driven before and it’s not at all like his old one. But he’s way too busy to take the time to read up on what to do.

One day the benefactor stops by to see them both. He asks how they are enjoying their cars. One says, “It’s great. I love driving it back and forth to work and to the store,” while thinking to himself, “I’m scared to venture out any farther because I can’t operate it very well.”

The other man gets into a lengthy conversation with his benefactor about the amazing features, even asking questions about some of the details in the manual.

Every time the two owners see each other, the one always starts talking about the car and what new thing he has discovered, while the other one just fakes his way through, wondering why he is having a very different experience.

Soon, the one guy parks his luxury car in the garage and gets back out his old clunker because it’s just easier to do than learning a new way to drive.

The other man starts taking more and more road trips to enjoy life and becomes close friends with the benefactor through their conversations.

God is the Benefactor. The car is our new life in Him. The Bible is the manual.

Which guy are you? Which one do you want to be?

Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake! Don’t take Wicked Bypass; don’t so much as set foot on that road. Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way. —Proverbs 4:1-15 MSG