I don’t know about you, but I love using cruise control on a long drive. I can turn it on, and just keep it between the lines, you know? If I don’t use cruise control, I find myself going too fast or slow (yeah, okay, usually too fast); then when I realize it, I slow down to a more ‘legal’ speed. I can also often tell when someone around me isn’t using cruise control, because they will pass me, and then not too long after, I will pass them. It’s hard to maintain a steady speed without it!
In some ways, cruise control is analogous to our walk with God, isn't it? The more control I exercise over my speed, the more erratic my speed will be. The more control I exercise over my life, the more erratic my life will be. When I let God’s Spirit lead me, I find myself in a much better and happier place. Much like tapping the brake when I’m using cruise control, it’s when I take over and do things for myself that my frustrations often start.
Of course, sometimes I have to turn off cruise control, because someone in front of me slows down, or some other traffic nuisance forces me out of ‘the zone’. In the same way, the trials and troubles of this life will sometimes push me to try and take control away from the Spirit and do things by my own power. This is a result of the broken world we live in, that we cannot maintain a Spirit-led life 100% of the time, just as I cannot keep cruise control on 100% of the time when I drive due to things going on around me.
In this life, God has blessed us with free will. It’s only true and complete free will that leave us able to truly and completely love God. Anything less than complete freedom of our own will would no longer allow a complete and free expression of love. I have to choose to conform my will to God’s, just as I have to choose to use cruise control. If I don’t, my trip will be much more erratic and stressful.
In the passage above from the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul states a long list of things that cannot separate us from the love of God. In fact, there is only one thing that can do it…. I can separate myself from God, by not believing and trusting in His Son, Jesus Christ. Only if I go through this life choosing to not accept Him as my Lord and Savior, will I die and go to a place that is separate from God and His Eternal Love. God loved us so much, and wanted us to truly love Him - so He gave us free will. Freedom to know true love; freedom to love the One who gave Himself for us; and even freedom to not love Him.
Ask Jesus into your heart, turn your free will towards Him, and freely choose to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Turn on the cruise control, and see how much more enjoyable the trip will be!
#LoveMatters