RELIGION: “CRASH TESTING” by Rodney Tilley

BY RODNEY TILLEY, PASTOR VAN HORN COMMUNITY CHURCH

I had nothing to do awhile back while waiting in the “big city,” so I thought I would browse a couple of car dealers just to see what they were offering on their showroom floors. I looked at a real small import and the salesman assured me that it had a 5-star crash rating. I knew that was much better than the 67 Morris Minor that I drive that probably has a .25-star rating, and when translated into plain English means, “You haven’t got a chance.”

Still I was not sure what these ratings really meant and since I want to be known as a knowledgeable car guy, I decided to do some research. I found that according to my computer it means that, “If a car has a 5-star rating, then I have a 10% chance of serious injury if hit at 35 miles an hour by the same car coming in the opposing direction.”

In light of that definition, then I am going to be invincible, for how many times am I going to be hit by a Morris Minor traveling in the opposing direction. I must have a 10-star rating for I have not seen another Morris on the road in years. But what if I am hit by a tractor-trailer truck carrying gas coming down Broadway at 35 miles an hour with no brakes, a driver half asleep, and steered by a kid of 16 with no license. Then what are my chances of injury?

You see, these rating scales are not for forecasting the future or even the possibility of an injury, for they are only comparing vehicle to vehicle, and as they say apples to apples, not apples to oranges. But you ask, “Now Rodney what has this to do with the Bible in your article this week?” I am glad you asked.

It is the same idea conveyed in the scripture where it commends us to “….not compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Cor. 10:12) You see we too rate ourselves as good or bad, and give ourselves a 5-star rating because we look at others and say, “I am just as good as that other guy.” We compare man to man, woman to woman, when we should be comparing ourselves through God’s eyes. We need to see how we rate with God and his rating scale. 

We really need to ask as David does in the Bible, “Test me, O Lord, and try me,” (Psalms 26:2) and then let me be a solid 5-star for you. 

Maybe it is time to trade in that old Morris and become a Mercedes that God wants you to be. It has the best safety record around and it will keep you from serious injury just as my research showed. Just be careful for the traffic is really bad this time of year. For more information on God’s rating scale call: Pastor Rodney at 432-207-0015.

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