God Doesn't Drive A Parked Car

Two weeks ago, I visited Springwood, in Hyde Park, the home of Franklin Roosevelt, better known as FDR.  As I did, I recalled Eleanor Roosvelet's uncle, TR -- Theodore Roosevelt -- also a famed president.  And like, FDR -- an incredible overcomer.

Now for FDR, the obstacles were focused mainly around his paralysis.  But for TR the obstacles were more varied and many:  debilitating asthma, extreme near-sightedness, and deep relational loss. 

The relational loss for TR was sweeping.  Especially wretching were the events of February of 1884.   Why as TR returned to the family home in New York City, he found his elderly mother Mittie, downstairs, suffering from Typhoid Fever and his young wife Alice, upstairs suffering from Bright’s disease.  Tragically both died on the same day, Valentines Day: Mittie at 3:00 am and Alice at 2:00 pm.   

Now understandably, TR was heart-broken.  But in a few months, TR did what he always did when adversity struck: he took action!

Specifically, TR traveled to the Dakota badlands becoming a cattle rancher, deputy sheriff, and writer.   For TR knew the only way to grow and live is to, yes, acknowledge hardship -- but not become captive to hardship -- to ’Get action,’ as TR loved to say.

“Do things.  Be sane…Take a place wherever you are -- and be somebody.  Get Action!"

Jesus would agree. Though Jesus’ action is the most important action, and Jesus’ Work the supreme Work, we must want Jesus’ Work -- exercising our God-given response-ability.  

For it's true:  God doesn't drive a parked car!  Paul says it best in Philippians 2: we must

“…work out [the] salvation…God has given [us] with a proper sense of awe and responsibility. For it is God who is at work within [us], giving [us] the will and the power to achieve his purpose… (Philippians 2:12-13, Phillips). 

And what is God’s purpose?  Why it’s for us to indeed grow and live; to be sanctified, maturing toward the wholeness of Christ.  But that only happens as we go deep, exercising the most important element of our soul, our volition.  

Now volition is just a big word for response-ability, free will, choice, and it’s central to our spiritual being, for as Watchman Nee notes:  

“…man is not an automaton…rather, man…possesses…volition and can choose either to follow God's Will…or…Satan's will…” “[The volition] is [the] "helm" by which he sails upon the sea of life.” (emphasis added).

A prime Biblical example of a person who did not believe he had a 'sail,' a volition, was the famed invalid at the pool at Bethesda, in John 5.  Why the invalid infers: though others have a 'sail,' a choice -- he’s helpless:  

“I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me…”  (John 5:7).

But Jesus isn’t buying it. Why throughout this text and related verses, Jesus affirms: we do have a sail, we do have a choice.  And it’s only as we exercise that choice that transformed life breaks forth.  

But how does that happen; how do we truly energize choice and volition, rising to new levels of response-ability?  Moving through other details of the invalid's story, we discover some clues.

1) Realize:  Though God Never ‘Gives Up’ On Us, God Never Forces Himself On Us.   Translated:  God is a ‘gentlemen’ who pursues us, but never ‘plows through us,’ overriding free will. 

In my experience, God pursues us in two ways:  through admonition and questions. We’ll get to the admonition in a moment, but consider God's question in John 5 to the invalid at Bethesda:

"...do you want to be healed?..." (John 5:6).  

How insensitive!! we respond. ‘I mean Jesus,'' we conclude, "...don't you realize no one’s willing to help the invalid into the pool?’

But Jesus infers we’re starting with the wrong issue:  the real issue is not whether others are willing to help (they probably are) -- the real concern is whether the invalid is willing to help himself.

A lot of us are not willing to help ourselves.  I mean let’s just say it: a lot of us enjoy being victims, preferring the familiar drone of: ‘what’s the use! – ‘I’m giving up’ – ‘It’s never going to get better’ – to the risky work of: ‘I want to be healed – ‘I’m fighting for my life’ – ‘It’s going to get better.’ 

Now, in all honesty, moving from: ‘It’s never going to get better’ – to – ‘it’s going to get better’ is risky.  In fact, it requires raw faith, devoid of immediate confirmation from God.  

But that’s how God operates: requiring our want-to, before His follow-through; our choice, our response-ability before His response. 

As the story goes, William Seymour, a leader in the famed Azusa Street Revival, wanted greater healing and revival for his congregation. And so Seymour set aside five hours a day to pray for God’s deeper touch; in fact, for three and a half years he prayed in that manner; but nothing happened.  And so Seymour increased his prayer time to seven hours a day for God’s deeper touch, for an additional two years; and ‘bingo’ God followed-through and healing and revival broke out; after 11,500 hours of prayer! 

Now I’m not suggesting 11,500 hours of prayer are normally required for God’s response. It’s not! But I am suggesting God’s follow-through is connected to our want-to -- and prayer is a great way to voice to the Lord what we truly want!

Next...

2) Believe:  It’s Never Too Late To Claim Greater Expressions Of Hope And Healing.  One aspect of the invalid’s tale in John 5 that’s often overlooked, is the amount of time the invalid lived as a victim. Why John 5:5 notes the invalid had been in that state "...  for thirty-eight years..." !! (John 5:5).

Yet in spite of such an extended time of whining, Jesus takes interest in the invalid (John 5:6) offering him hope and healing, nevertheless.  So be encouraged:  even if you’ve been whining for a long time, making excuses forever, Jesus wants to assist you; translated: it’s not too late!  

But a lot of us believe it is too late, settling for humdrum, pedestrian ways.  There’s a great story about two elderly golfers putzing around the golf course.  As they did, one of the seniors ran across a talking frog.  “Listen,” the frog said.  “If you kiss me I’ll turn into a beautiful princess”.  Well, the senior thought and thought and thought, but then just grabbed the frog and put it in his pocket.  “Are you crazy!” his buddy exclaimed? “Why didn’t you kiss it?”  “Oh that’s easy,” the man said.  “At my age, I’d rather have a talking frog!!!”

But at any age, God wants you to have a royal future, not a routine future.  God wants you full of hope and healing – transformed, advancing in vital ways.  

My favorite Biblical example of this is Sarah in Genesis 21.  Why at ninety years of age Sarah gives birth to Isaac and it’s a hoot.  In fact, when Abraham, Sarah’s husband learns of God’s plans for Sarah’s pregnancy, Abraham bursts out laughing (Genesis 17:14).  Well, the laughing continues in Genesis 21, for the prospect of God giving new life at any age – even old age – is disarming.  And so Sarah just exclaims:  “God has brought me laugher and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me…”  (Genesis 21:6).  

God wants you to laugh with Sarah; to believe that at any point in your life, you too can do the impossible – birthing fresh expressions of life and transformation.

But not just for self, but for the advancement of others.  For many need the prospect of continued growth and life through the transforming power of God.  

And so... 

3) Get Up And Walk, Not Just Claiming Healing, But Sharing Healing.   Earlier I noted God pursues us in two ways: questions and admonition.  Well, here comes the admonition.   

After listening carefully to the invalid’s excuse making, then questioning the invalid’s excuse making, Jesus confronts the invalid’s excuse making, and admonishes:  “Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk…”  (John 5:8).  And with that, the invalid is healed (John 5:9).  

But it’s interesting, the invalid keeps walking – eventually sharing with others the prospect of healing and the Jesus “…who made him well…”  (John 5:15).  

We need to share with others the prospect of healing and the Jesus who makes us well.  Sure we must get up and act, for God doesn't drive a parked car!  But then, we’re to keep driving, with Jesus -- toward others – sharing with them the prospect of redemption -- transformation -- and new beginnings.

Because, have you noticed?  We live in an especially brutal world that works overtime, beating up folks in severe, horrific ways.   And so it’s critical we not only claim -- but pass-along -- transformation to others, in surprising, power-full ways!

A while back, a power-full story emerged out of North Texas.  Two members of the Grand Prairie homecoming court -- Anahi Alvarez and Naomi Martinez -- decided that if either of them won homecoming queen, they’d give the title to their friend Lillian Skinner.  

Why?  Because Lillian had been bullied brutally throughout high school because of her appearance; the most recent instance being a report Lillian had been selected for homecoming court, that was not true.  A discovery that utterly crushed Lillian.  

But that all changed on September 12th when Anahi Alvarez was indeed selected homecoming queen and Anahi did exactly what she and Naomi Matinez had decided: Anhai handed the crown over to Lillian Skinner and persons were amazed!  For as Anahi noted afterward:  the bullies did not win. for indeed there are “…people that are going to stop them, that are going to stand up for all the innocent people that can’t defend themselves…” offering hope and healing.

In a world that bullies, offer hope and healing.  Get up -- take action -- and walk not only in your wholeness – but for the wholeness of others.  

Walk for the wholeness of others.   Get up -- take action -- and walk!   Don’t be a victim, or allow others to be a victim.  Move beyond excuses and do something!  For you do have a choice, for at the center of your soul is a 'sail,' a volition a free will.  

Sure God will always do His part – but – God requires our want-to before His follow-through; our choice, our response-ability before His response.  

For God doesn't drive a parked car!!

Thus, in the words of TR:

“Do things.  Be sane…Take a place wherever you are -- and be somebody.  Get Action!"

But action, in and through the Work -- the action -- of Jesus, who will empower you to respond!