“My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isa. 65:22).

Part Two

When I was preparing for the ministry, I was part of a religious group with a rigid caste system. A person’s rank was reflected by the type of car he drove.

The top executive leaders of the church drove luxury cars. People in a supervisory capacity drove top-of-the-line-cars. Pastors with ten to twenty years seniority drove medium-sized cars. Those just starting out drove modest cars.

Students fell into a category of wrecks, old bombs, junkers, and high-mileage used cars. This unofficial “pecking order” was not written anywhere in a manual, but eyebrows were raised if anyone dared to “get out of line.”

To do so was supposed to indicate pride – a deadly sin. To the hapless offender, the message was loud and clear: “Stay in your realm!”

On the very bottom rung of this organizational ladder, I as a Bible school student, was put into a top-of-the-line luxury car by an interested friend. When I saw the negative reaction caused by my “impertinence” and “conceit,” I purposed to sell the offending vehicle and settle for something more “becoming my low estate.”

On my way down to automobile row, the Lord gave me this verse and this message: “I gave you this car to use and enjoy. Don’t let man’s opinion dictate to you or man’s traditions dominate you. You will be doing a lot of driving. I want you to arrive at your destination safe and rested. Keep this car. Drive it. Enjoy it!”

I did just that. This verse became to me a promise of long-term duration. I had a good car plus a precious promise from a loving, caring, heavenly Father.