Life in the Passenger Seat

"God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."  

Ephesians 1:22-23

There is one thing that the drivers in my family really hate.  They hate driving with me in the passenger seat.  When they follow too close… go too fast.  I am constantly jamming my foot down onto an imaginary brake. I grab the handle above the door as if hanging on for dear life.   If they unexpectedly hit the brakes or someone cuts them off, I just about jump out of my skin.  I did this other day, riding with our DCE Richard to Austin.  I was giving him instructions – when the light would turn green, was there an arrow or not.  He was nicer than my family.  My family hates when I try to drive from the passenger seat.  Why do I do it? It’s because when I’m not driving, I’m not in control. 

It’s hard not being in the driver’s seat. When the company is getting ready to lay off employees, you go to work worrying.  Why? You aren’t in the driver’s seat.  Do you know what scares people about surgery?  They are afraid of the anesthesia.  They won’t be in control. A teenager gets his driver’s license. What scares parents about letting him have the car? They won’t be driving.  He will.  We struggle when we aren’t in control.  As a result, whether out of worry, or fear or anger or manipulation we try to drive from the passenger seat. 

That just doesn’t work.  You can stomp your foot on the floor all you want but the car won’t stop. You have no brake… no gas pedal… no steering wheel.  Any attempt to drive the car from the passenger seat will only cause trouble… You’ll anger the driver… You could cause an accident.  Damage will be done.  People will get hurt.  The same is true in life… Trying to control other people… trying to manipulate or change them will only destroy relationships.  It will only create resentment.  Worry will only give you ulcers.  Fear will rob you of peace and security.    

What makes this so silly is that the drivers in my family are great drivers.  If I would just trust them, I could enjoy the drive.  This is the message of the Ascension.  God has given us a driver we can trust, our Lord Jesus Christ!  God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.  Jesus ascended into heaven.  He sat down at the right hand of God.  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.  At baptism Jesus has been made Lord of your life.  Jesus has sat down on the throne of your heart.  God has placed Jesus in the driver’s seat.

Often times when I am driving, my family doesn’t like being in the passenger seat.  I will make a turn they weren’t expecting.  I will go some place they didn’t know I was taking them.  They have come to know that I usually find my way to places.  They know if I take them some place unexpected I usually have a good reason. Sometimes our Lord makes unexpected turns in life – an illness… a move to a new community, a job loss, a baby we weren’t planning. We are tempted to worry, “How can losing my job be the best place to turn?  How can you allow my spouse to get cancer?”  Paul’s prayer for us is that even when we can’t see where Jesus is taking us… when He makes unexpected turns, that we would trust Him.  “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Think of Jesus’ life and ministry.  When they came to arrest him Jesus simply gave Himself up. When they lied about Him He wouldn’t defend Himself.  When they whipped him, beat Him and crowned Him with thorns He didn’t call on 12 legions of angels to rescue Him.  Jesus didn’t come down from that cross.  He just hung there and died.  How could that be the right route?  How could He overcome by allowing His enemies to overcome Him?  How could He win His victory by losing?  How could He gain life by dying?  How could He save the world when He couldn’t save Himself?  Yet He did.  On the third day He rose to life again. What had looked like weakness on Good Friday was really God’s power at work to save the world.  What had seemed like utter defeat had actually been total victory.  This Jesus is the one who has ascended into Heaven.  He is the One whom God the Father has placed at His right hand.  This is the One whom God has appointed him to be head over everything for the church.  We can be sure that every turn God makes, even the unexpected turn, is the right turn.  

Several years ago I had a conversation with my good friend Pastor David Koch.  He was battling cancer.  They were trying everything… even new special medications.  They tried experimental treatments.  They tried chemo therapy.  That day David had  been to the doctor.  The cancer was getting worse.  I asked him if he was discouraged.  He said, “I’m disappointed but not discouraged.  God knows where He is taking me.  He’s in control.”  He was right.  Eventually the Lord took one last turn.  He took David home. Our life of faith is like that.  It’s life in the passenger seat… enjoying the ride no matter where He takes us.  After all, Jesus is in the Driver’s seat.  We can trust Him.  Amen.