A very good friend of mine who is also a brother in Christ has a really neat way of explaining the difference between believing in God and having a personal relationship with Him. He says, think about when you are in city traffic how easy it is for people to cut you off or be rude to you. It’s almost like you weren’t even there! But of course you are there and they know you're there. So why is it?
It’s because they don’t know you. They know you exist because they can see you and they know that cars don’t drive themselves. They know there is a real bona fide person behind the wheel with a life of their own to live but they don’t know you personally so they don’t think twice about pulling out in front of you and making your wait for them. If they were getting ready to pull out but realized that you were their friend from work, or their neighbour, or their mother in law (OK bad example) then they would act very different toward you.
Derek says that it is the same way with people and God. Lots of people would say they believe in God, but it has little to no effect on the way they live their lives. Why? Because, while they give some kind of mental assent to His existence, they don’t know Him; they do not have a relationship with Him; they don’t talk with Him or listen to His Word or concern themselves with what concerns Him.
I think he’s right. What do you think? Share your comment.
Pretty decent analogy. To take it one step further and stay on the "driving analogy". Many think all is good because they have done a lot of good in their lives and very little bad, or sin. Consider your driving record. You drive for ten years perfectly, no fines, tickets or even warnings. Then one day you have "one too many" and speed through town at 130. When you go to court, is the judge going to say "well you drove perfect for years so all is good. Off you go." No. You are going to get fined, loss of license and maybe off to jail. Since the ONLY penalty for sin is death, does not bode well for the day you step in front of the Judge all by your lonesome, regardless of how much good you think you have done, now does it.
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