My Ole 67 Pontiac

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”  (Revelation 21:5)

            Once when I was struggling through life, as I often did before Jesus came along, I needed a car to transport my family.  A so-called friend gave me a 1967 blue Pontiac Catalina.  It was a classic that looked and ran great, for about fifteen minutes. Then it would stop running completely!  Since that was the only problem and I prided myself in my skills as a shade tree mechanic, I set out to fix it.  For the next three months that car drove me absolutely crazy.  I flushed out the fuel lines, rebuilt the carburetor and even installed an electric fuel pump to keep the fuel system from vapor locking.  Nothing worked. I finally took someone else’s advice to keep the oil and change the car!

That’s kind of how our flesh is.  No matter how hard we attempt to fix it and make it better, we fail.  We become totally frustrated and end up reverting even deeper into destructive behaviors.  The addict knows this all too well, but then again so do those of us who have tried to diet repeatedly.  Most of us have at least some clothes in our closets for when we lose that temporary ten pounds that we are carrying around.

If you go into a book store probably the most prominent display is the one offering “Self Help” books.  In reality, as Christians we ought to categorize self-help books as Fiction.  Because there is no such thing as “Self Help.”   Paul says, For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out (Romans 7:18 ESV).  So biblically-speaking there is no help for self.  We will have as much success fixing ourselves as I did fixing that old Pontiac.

And wisely God doesn’t try either.  He knows what is needed.  He states simply at the end of His book about mankind, Behold, I am making all things new.

Father, Forgive me for even attempting to fix my old fallen flesh. Help me please to yield myself completely to You, that You may make me new today.” Amen –

 Chaplain Jim Freed is Director of Men’s Addiction Ministries at America’s Keswick. Today’s devotional is from Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 and can be download to your Kindle.

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 4-5; Hebrews 7

Quote of the day: Endurance is like an unshakeable rock in the winds and waves of life.

However the tempest batters him, the patient man remains steadfast and does not turn back; and when he finds relief and joy, he is not carried away by self-glory: he is always the same, whether things are hard or easy, and for this reason, he is proof against the snares of the enemy. Peter of Damaskos

Bible Memory: You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments. Psalm 119:65-66