Most of us own cars. They represent one of the most important investments in our lives. In the Western world, a car is a must for independence and ease in our lifestyle. If you do not already know, you will soon learn that cars require attention, professional attention. Cars will not make it on their own.

Almost every car dealer has a service department, and if you have tried to make an appointment for service lately, you know how busy and backed up they are. For best results, the car owner listens for the slightest strange noise or anything unusual going on that might threaten the continued good operation of their vehicle. We will not long tolerate any symptom that threatens our car.

Our car came with an owner’s manual. It is placed in a prominent location where it can be easily accessed for questions and instructions concerning what we need to know about our car.

We all have another precious possession. It is our life. We did not have to buy it; it was a gift. Whether or not we see life as a gift from God, it does not detract from our need to be good stewards of life.

Life has a manufacturer. It did not just happen, and even if it did, it is such a profound happening that we should celebrate it and do everything we can to nurture it.

Cars and life have a lot of similarities. Both require care, but it is possible we give more care to our cars than we do to our lives. There is likely not one gimmick on our car that we have not mastered, yet we rarely make any effort to see what makes us tick. We see cars streaming by us all the time. If we see something out of whack, we think, “They better get that taken care of,” yet we live our lives with things out of whack and seem to never get around to the owner’s manual or get some help to see what is causing all that turmoil inside.

The average auto parts store has racks of additives that promise a better life for our car. We would not think of haphazardly adding some substance that is touted to help our car without doing due diligence to be sure it will not cause harm. Yet, we think nothing of pouring, sniffing or injecting all kinds of things into our bodies which are the essence of our lives.

Our cars have little lights that tell us when it is time for a checkup. Our lives are full of sensors and indicators that tell us it is time to pay attention. It may be a friend who cares enough about us to tell us the truth. It may be some pain somewhere that needs checking, or it may be some emotion, which is crying out that we either stuff or mask with some “additive” to keep going.

Life’s owner is Almighty God. The owner’s manual is the Bible, God’s Word. The best service department or mirror for our lives is a good church that tells us the truth even if it hurts.

Yes, it is time for a tune-up! Get it done
regularly!