My wife and I recently purchased a "new" car, at least it is new to us, and one of the features that helped drive our decision was the extended warranty. Basically, as long as we perform the required maintenance program our new, not so new, car would be covered mechanically for up to 100,000 miles. That impressed us. Other companies go even further and offer a lifetime warranty, but that carries with it a much more detailed and extensive list of the "what has to be maintained" to maintain a lifetime warranty. We opted for the extended warranty in this case and have been delighted with our, her, new car. Those of you that are married out there understand what I mean about the ownership of said automobile!
When we take our car in for a maintenance check-up we trust that the mechanic has the skills, training, and expertise to assure our automobile is running properly. The mechanic, we assume, will fix what is in need of maintenance, and if parts or fluids need to be replenished or replaced we expect the mechanic will make the appropriate recommendations and then perform the necessary procedures upon our approval.
Why do we go to the trouble of keeping up with a maintenance plan on our vehicles? Besides the matter of getting that “peace of mind” feeling having an extended warranty on our automobile provides, we follow the suggested maintenance schedule so we can keep our vehicles on the road. The best chance for us to have safe travels and to not be stuck on the side of the road with a broke down car centers around maintaining our car's engine and other mechanical parts.
I believe it is safe to assume that everyone agrees maintenance on your vehicle of choice is an essential and necessary aspect of owning a car. But, what about the maintenance check-up on our own personal life? Are we just as convinced that we need to be performing regular maintenance on how we are living our spiritual lives, and what areas of our life need some attention, possibly even a part removed or replenished? Fortunately for us, we have the perfect mechanic who we can turn to for a check-up, and receive a diagnostic analysis without ever spending a penny on the necessary maintenance we need to perform.
God is the Great Physician or in this analogy the Great Mechanic. We should be scheduling daily check-ins and check-ups to see how our life's motor is working. The maintenance manual for our walk with God is easily accessible and should be followed daily. We read God's word for guidance on what we need to be doing and the "how to" examples that are provided by the heroes and saints of the Bible. We were created by God on purpose for a purpose, so it is our responsibility to stay in tune with what our purpose is and whether or not we are keeping in tune with that will. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." Ephesians 2:10. If we find that our motor needs an adjustment then we are never closer to a mechanic than we are to our Creator and Father in Heaven, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.
It isn't advisable or practical to drive your vehicle and never follow through on keeping the maintenance schedule in order, regardless of any extended warranty or lifetime warranty. If we want to live eternally with our Savior in Heaven then we need to follow His owner's manual on a regular daily schedule. We don't wait until we have a breakdown on the road before we take our car in for maintenance, why would we wait until we have a personal breakdown before we come to meet with our Lord and Savior? The good news is our maintenance plan is simple; faith, sacrifice, service, and above all love! Our job is to assure that we are sacrificing without seeking to gain, serving others because God sent His only Son to serve mankind, and to love unconditionally. Shouldn't we be doing the same things? There’s no better time than today to perform your maintenance check-up.
Coach Carter
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