THE TAKE AWAY

Of Purchase Prices and Restoration

So, Dev's car blew up last Monday.

He was two miles from the booming metropolis of Flagler, CO, when a grating noise was followed by a loud bang and then all was silence. He was able to call 911 and they sent a tow truck which hauled him to the grandness of the prairie that is Limon. The garage declared "thrown rod" and offered him $2500. Well, $2800 because the tires were new. The owner's uncle, who worked there, drove him to Falcon where I picked him up.

Living with only one vehicle isn't that bad for us. My job's uber-flexible when it comes to location (although if you've recently sent a donation by check, please know I'll get to it tomorrow). What's been killing us is the car shopping.

Every purchase price we saw was above Blue Book and Edmunds. By $1000-$3000! Everything is a walking (rolling) mystery. Okay, your Outback is $7000, but how much maintenance does it need? Your Rav-4 runs great, but the sunroof is going to cost $1000 to fix. And what unholy scent are you trying to cover up in your Tucson with that even-more-ungodly air "freshener"?!

Really, we wanted the impossible. A refurbed engine on the Escape would have been $7000. Would it be possible to get a decent vehicle for that amount? One with low miles and that has a reputation for lasting 200,000 miles or more? That didn't need major maintenance the minute we drove it away?

Maybe? But we sure didn't find one.

Instead, we went with a vehicle that had all of that and also maintenance issues. Typical Subaru stuff that we were familiar with because of my old Outback. Not cheap, but expected.

But as I wait for Dev to drive home after paying for it, the whole situation reminds me of something. I'm imagining Jesus looking down on the world, deciding which person to pick next. We're all used, of course. He hasn't had a new person since Eve. All of us need a lot of work — even those of us who are a newer model or have low miles.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

And even though we are broke hard, the purchase price is high — His life.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

And although He knows the faults in each person, there is no amount of money that can be paid to completely fix every problem in this life. He will pay with His life. And then He will call up the Holy Spirit to start the maintenance. But we're stubborn, and it's a dangerous world out there, and even if we do run 200,000 or 300,000 miles for Christ, we're always going to have dings and oil leaks.

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:5

And that's okay. Jesus will keep doing maintenance, even though we'll never be perfect. If we let Him, He will lovingly restore us to something beautiful, although probably not with spinners or those wicked-high spoilers that don't actually do anything.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Dev's car cost $5500. It needs a new water pump and an oil leak fixed. But we're hoping it runs through JT's college years. Our purchase price was Jesus' life. And we need a lot more than new gaskets. I'm grateful He's willing to put in the work.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Image Credit: After-market upgrade; James Tworow; "Cats & Car"; Creative Commons

Tags: Biblical-Salvation | Biblical-Truth | Christian-Life | Jesus-Christ | Personal-Life

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Published 11-19-2014