I like cars. I especially like new cars. I can only afford one car at a time and herein lies my problem. If I could, I think I would replace my car way too often for something different. It might not necessarily be better, but it would be different. That is why I love the test drive.
I can go into a new car dealer, and with no intention of buying or leasing a new vehicle, take it on a test drive. Because it is a new car, I am careful with it. If I damage it, I don’t want to be responsible for it.
I am not looking for the commitment or responsibility of ownership, just the thrill of the test drive. I want to smell the new car smell, feel fresh leather seats, play with the knobs and buttons and test some of the performance limits. Then when I am done, return it to the dealer.
When I was single, the Lord cautioned me about too many “test drives”. Of course He was not referring to cars (well, at one point, He actually was), but people and relationships. Truth be told, He was talking about me and single women. He warned me about “test driving”, when I had no intention of making the commitment of ownership.
Nowadays, with the internet technology available to us, we can learn a lot about “cars” without ever going to a physical dealership. We can read about all the features, talk to others about their experiences with a particular “car” and even see videos and photos of a particular model. We can really do some test driving at the speed of the web.
Buying a car, (a real one this time) is a business decision. When all is said and done, you must pay for the right of owning that car. How it makes you feel and all that other stuff does not matter and it should not influence how much you pay. In fact the more detached you are the better business deal you can make.
The other test driving is NOT a business decision and we should not approach it as such, even though we often do. That is when “misunderstandings” occur and people get hurt.
God is not at all into you test driving His “cars”. You should be willing and able to make the full commitment before you go onto the lot kicking tires and looking up under the hood.
I’ve had car dealers tell me “I’m not in love with any of them”, but God IS in love with all of His “cars”. He will not ignore it when you treat his “cars” like a rental, abusing it in anyway, and just returning it in any old kind of condition. He treats each one like it is His only one and He knows when you mistreat them.
Single people, take care of each other, stop all this test driving and work on preparing yourself for the day when you can recognize the “car” God built just for you. When you know you won’t return it, you will take care of it from the beginning. Selah.
Everyday God... 