January 11, 2017 (Wednesday)
I wrote a blog once about all the cars I’ve owned through the years. I did not expect anyone to pay much attention to it and even apologized for boring my “reading public.” But it turned out to be one of the most popular blogs I’ve written and there was much interest in the old cars. Everyone who commented to me also told me stories of their old cars like mine.
Each car had its story, but the one that’s on my mind today is the 1951 Chevrolet 4-door sedan, green in color with a huge sun shade outside the windshield. I learned most of what I know about repairing cars by working on it. During the five years I had it, I fixed nearly every part of it in one way or another. I put at least two transmissions in it, did five or more valve jobs on the engine, stayed up all night several times, using makeshift tools, so that I could get to work the next day. Replaced the master cylinder on the brakes, wheel cylinders, fuel pumps, carburetors, universal joints, alternators, etc. etc. Finally, I traded it in for a better one. I was not sad to see it go.
It’s on my mind because it reminds me of our human bodies, which require maintenance and, sometimes, repairs. I have several doctors, all of them responsible for something related to their specialties. Yes, I have been repaired from time to time and I try to practice good maintenance procedures, just like I did with my old car. Tomorrow, in fact, I have an appointment with an eye specialist and we will arrange for removal of cataracts. Like you, I get this or that fixed, and I just keep on going. That’s what I did with my old Chevy, until one day it just wore out, and I had to get another.
It occurs to me that this is what’s taking place with my “earthly tabernacle.” One of these days, it’s going to wear out completely and no more repairs will be made. Instead, I’ll trade it in for a better one. How do I know this? The Bible tells me so. Here’s what it says (in The Living Bible translation): “First, then, we have these human bodies, and later on God gives us spiritual, heavenly bodies. Adam was made from the dust of the earth, but Christ came from heaven above. Every human being has a body just like Adam’s, made of dust, but all who become Christ’s will have the same kind of body as his–a body from heaven. Just as each of us now has a body like Adam’s, so we shall some day have a body like Christ’s” (1 Corinthians 15:46-49).
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“So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work..” (1 Corinthians 15:58a TLB).
Wednesday blogs are usually about the Psalms (our Wednesday night Bible Study), but Bethel Baptist Church will have a business meeting this evening. The study of Psalm 27 will be the subject of the blog next Wednesday (January 18, 2017).