The Ride of Your Life

How do you see your life?

“Life is lot like a carousel,” grumbled one old-timer. “You go in circles and then get off where you started.”

Or maybe life’s a car ride. Remember The Cosby Show’s Dr. Huxtable? He told his TV son, Theo, life was a car and education was like the gas. “The more you get the further you go.”

“Life is like a bull ride,” said a young cowboy with cancer. “It’s not the length of the ride that counts but how well you ride.”

Whatever kind of ride you’re on, one thing is sure: it’s a short one. Just like the thrill rides at theme parks. You can wait in line for hours—and then the ride is over in seconds.

It seems like we spend our lives waiting for exciting events: graduation, romance, marriage and births. Then it’s over and we watch the cycle repeat in our children’s lives.

Just when you think you’ve finally figured life out and the ride is going well—it’s time to get off. “Watch your step and exit to the right. Next, please.”

As a pastor I have conducted funerals for children, the aged and many in between. But there’s one thing they all had in common. When God decided their ride was over, it ended. Whether they rode well or not wasn’t for me to decide. That’s God’s responsibility.

Well hold on just a minute! What’s the measure of “riding well” or a life well lived?

A good time to find out is before your ride is over. It could make all the difference.

My goal is to make an impact on this world with eternal results. And that’s not easy. You know why? Because most things you do or collect won’t last forever. They’re temporary.

Some people have an impact on this world but very few make a lasting difference. If you want eternal results you have to work with the two things that are eternal: God’s Word and people’s souls. That’s why Jesus called his disciples to leave fishing and be “fishers of men.”

If you do decide to follow Jesus, hang on because you’re in for the ride of your life!

In some places today, following Jesus (or inviting others to follow him) will get you a free ride to prison. In extreme cases it would get you a trip to the executioner.

At the very least you would be misunderstood, ridiculed and harassed. But receiving love, forgiveness, peace, purpose and eternal life from God makes it worth it all. Plus, if you follow Jesus, you can bring to Heaven everyone who comes to Christ because of your example.

Now that’s making an eternal impact--increasing Heaven’s population!

What kind of ride are you on? Is it all about the money, the pleasure or the power to control other’s lives? If so, you’ll end up where you started. With nothing that lasts or satisfies.

Jesus calls us to a different kind of ride. One that is not so much about self as it is about serving others. He invites us to follow him. And it’s more exciting than any thrill ride!

Take the time for a reality check. What kind of ride has your life been until now? Is your life making an eternal difference? If not, now is a good time to switch rides!

The Bible tells us to redeem the time we have left on planet earth. To exchange our lives for something that will last forever. To put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. To make him our Lord and our God. And then to bring others to Jesus.

To find out more, don’t just take my word for it. Pick up a Bible and read the gospel of John in the New Testament and then keep reading. It can change your life for good.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!