But What's On the Inside?

A few years ago my husband and I had the great fortune of taking a vacation through the mountain states of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.  The scenery was breathtaking, but I was constantly mindful of the treachery of the highways as we passed runaway truck ramps, designated passing lanes, and roads that were bordered by hazardous drop-offs.  Most of the time my attention was riveted to the awe inspiring beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with their dense forests and low-hanging mists.  At times I felt truly speechless.  Most of the time I felt insignificant against such majesty.

On one particular day of travel, my husband was navigating a steep and frightening stretch of higway while I sat gripping the door handle and staring wide-eyed into some of the most amazing scenery I had ever seen.  As we rounded one hairpin turn, we came across an abandoned automobile that had been pulled over to the side of the road.  As we crept past it, trying not to cross over the center line of the road, I noticed that the empty car was covered with bumper stickers and various window displays.  Virtually every one of them had something to do with announcing to the world that the driver of that vehicle was a Christian.  I took note of no less than four fish symbols, at least half-a-dozen crosses, and a myriad of commercialized sayings like, "God is my co-pilot,"  "My boss is a Jewish carpenter, " and "I'm not perfect, just forgiven."  There didn't apper to be anything obviously wrong with the car-- no flat tire, no broken shock, nothing what would outwardly announce its ailment.  I concluded that the problem must have been an internal one:  an overheated engine, a bad spark plug, a leaking radiator.  Whatever the problem, the driver had abandoned the auto and there it sat, hindering traffic and posing a very real threat to other drivers. We made it past that car safely and my husband firmly stated, "People would be a lot better off if they just took some time to do their regular maintenance before they hit the road!"

Many Christians are not so very different from that broken down vehicle.  Some are full of religious cliches, others wear crosses in abundance around the necks, some sport colorful t-shirts with catchy Christian phrases on them.  There is nothing intrinsically wrong with exhibiting evidence of your faith, but the problem arises when those who flaunt their Christian beliefs outwardly lack the inner evidences of them.  They sail through life praising God while they travel down level roads, but when the journey takes them up steep mountain paths that test their strength, they break down alongside the road.

Mature Christians are those who move through this world with grace and peace, seldom drawing attention to themselves, but always exhibiting the love of Christ to those whom they meet.  Nothing seems to hinder their faith.  They stand rock solid in the face of trails and emerge on the other side stronger for the experience.  They are not afraid to tell the world of their faith, but seldom do so through t-shirts or bumper stickers.


What makes the difference in these lives?  I believe it is the day to day maintenance that goes on under the hood that makes the true Christian able to travel even the roughest roads without breaking down.  That maintenance comes in the form of Bible study and prayer, church attendance, and fellowship with other believers.  When these things are regularly attended to, a Christian can remain strong despite the trials of life.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  

(James 1:2-4)

Bumper stickers are fine, and they probably have their place on some cars (although my husband would disown me if he found one plastered on our automobile).  There's nothing wrong with wearing a cross around your neck or sporting a t-shirt with a Christian logo.  It is only when those outward exhibitions of your faith exceed the inner maintenance going on between you and the Lord that you will find yourself in serious trouble on the often treacherous roads of life.  My husband knew of what he spoke when he said, "People would be a lot better off if they just took some time to do their regular maintenance fore they hit the road."  When was your last tune-up?

 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.  Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

(Matthew 6:1-6)