WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

Where The Rubber Meets The Road

It's been said that a car is often judged by it's tires. How many times have we seen films
of tacky used car lots, a greasy used car salesman with a bad toupee, and an
easily-conned car buyer? As the salesman gives his pitch, the potential buyer kicks the tires
before he even looks under the hood. Why is that? It's not just to see the condition of the
tires, but how they are worn. It gives a clue into the workings of the parts attached to the
car. Tires are the feet of the vehicle.

We are like vehicles, at least our mortal bodies are. But it's our feet, or our "tires" we
should be mindful of too. Some conditions we need to look out for:

Treads- Anyone who's been unfortunate enough to get stuck in the mud or slide on
ice or snow knows that traction makes all the difference. Spinning the wheels isn't going
to do much unless those tires "got tooth". Treads are the teeth of the tires. Treads divert
potentially damaging objects away from the tire surface and protect the tire.

Luke 10:19-Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.




Hydroplaning- Just a little bit of water can lift a heavy vehicle off the road surface.
A sudden rainstorm causes the tires to float on top of the water. Panicking makes it
worse. What to do? Slow down! That's all! Getting off the gas and not applying the
brakes is the best way. Your "feet" will be back on the ground quickly when you
let go and let God! God wants us to rest and live in him and he wants to direct our
paths. If we go on ahead too quickly and don't act properly during the floods, we'll
lose our traction.

Isaiah 43:2a- "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;"

Flat Tires- You didn't add air to the tires, or worse, you added too much, then..."POP!"
We might not have payed attention that we were getting low on air for a while until our
tires are flopping around like pancakes on the rims. We need to be filled with the "air"
of the Holy Spirit if we want to get around safely and efficiently. We need that "air"
to cushion the bumps and blows the roads of life present.

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
(that leads me to driving drunk, which we'll discuss a bit later!)
John 20:22 (NLT)- Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Blow-Outs - When a tire gets too big for it's rubber britches, it goes, "BOOM!" Why? All that
inflated and compressed air. The tire can't move about because it's too stiff and won't be
flexible to compromise with the road. A person who goes around too puffed-up to give
a little will have their share of "blow-outs". Sometimes the tires get too hot from pressing on
ahead and the rubber just melts from the heat and then again, "POP!". You could end up
on the side of the roads of life without assistance for a while.

Proverbs 29:23- A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
Obadiah 1:3- The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks
and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?
James 4:10- Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Tire Pressure- If tires are not under a certain amount of pressure, they won't work well. God
places a certain amount of pressure on us to keep us humble and yet give us strength.

2 Corinthians 1: 8-118-11: 8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.


Alignment- Ever seen a car with such bad alignment that it looks like it's driving sideways or crab-walking?
Even the best tires can get out of alignment and need to be realigned. So do people. We need to go to God
and have a check-up and then get right with God so we can travel straight on the road ahead.

New Tires- The quickest and safest ride is in a vehicle with new tires. And aren't they pretty when they're all new and shiny? The Bible tells of how the "feet" of the christian witness are so good looking in this verse-

Isaiah 52:7- How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!


Romans 4:22-25 - 22 That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." 23 But it's not just Abraham; 24 it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. 25 The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.