The headline screamed, “Terrifying Wreck on the Interstate, Searching For Survivors”.
What we picture in our minds is a collection of scenes from real life observation; or from visual stories like movies, videos, or photographs. We recall mangled metal, shattered glass, and broken bodies of occupants. Sometimes, the “Jaws of Life” can be used to pry bent metal to save people and load into the ambulances. Once the people are taken care of, the inanimate objects must be dealt with.
Some vehicles in accidents have been sheared apart by the force of the impact, and lay in sections at the site. These cannot be repaired, and are considered irredeemable. Some vehicles are designated as “Totaled” and are sent off to either salvage yards or scrap recyclers. Someone has to make a determination as to whether that vehicle can have a new life or not. These vehicles are far fewer in number than ones that are determined to be unsalvageable. Very skilled body shops with specific, highly specialized equipment can straighten out something that’s was once given up for lost, and make a like-new vehicle that has many more years of life!
When people come to the realization that they need forgiveness for their sins, and pray to receive Christ as their Savior; the “old man dies” and they become a “new creature”.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
So, when we receive Jesus Christ, our disformed sinful wreckage is hauled into His holy reclamation facility, and a new person is created out of that condition. The highly specialized equipment doesn’t take hours and hours, like a vehicle body shop would take. With the heart-felt prayer of confession for sins made, the handoff to the Master Rebuilder takes place, and a “new” person is born out of that situation right away. And the “new person” is not the external body, but something so much more valuable! We are completely reconditioned from the INSIDE. And every believer receives “upgrades” as they go through life as a believer.
After the cleanup, the Holy Spirit takes up residence and guides our future paths along the journey of the rest of our lives. It’s an amazing thing to witness, when an actual vehicle has been wrecked with pictures taken. Then, after the body shop has restored the physical structure, the pleased and stunned faces show the transformation impact of a shiny like-new vehicle. Similarly, when people have witnessed the “before” evidence of a person’s past behaviors, actions, and calamities; it is amazing how families, friends, and even business associates react to a completely rebuilt life in Christ!!! As said before, once it was thought “all is lost”, but now a person has a great future in the arms of the Lord for more years!
“Lord, thank You for viewing our past conditions, and responded when we pray! Please continue to wash us in Living Water, give us a real shine, when needed, and keep us ON THE ROAD so we can be productive and purposeful in Your work! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”