A story with a purpose
Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Bicycle. Mr. Bicycle has no power in himself. He is a very useful instrument to his Master, but without his Master, he is simply a collection of gears, wheels, a chain, and a steerable frame.
One day, Mr. Bicycle was sitting along the side of the road. He was leaned up against a fence, waiting upon his Master, who was inside a nearby shop, picking up a few items.
Along came Mr. Horse, who snorted and neighed, and said to Mr. Bicycle, “It is a beautiful day! You should not just be leaning here. Come, ride along with me and feel the wind on your back!”
“But I cannot,” said Mr. Bicycle, “for I have no power without the strength of my master!”
“Nonsense!” said Mr. Horse, “see how I walk freely? You have wheels, so it should be even easier for you.”
Just at that moment, there came rushing past Mr. Large Truck with many wheels and a loud engine. He came very close to Mr. Bicycle, and with the force of his swift movement, Mr. Large Truck dislodged Mr. Bicycle from the fence upon which he was leaning. With gravity pulling upon him, Mr. Bicycle began to roll forward, down the hill a short ways.
At this, Mr. Horse snorted to him, “See, Mr. Bicycle, you can move without your Master! Now, come along and let’s see where the wind takes us today;” and Mr. Horse was off to explore the world.
Mr. Bicycle, however, had reached the bottom of the hill. He crumpled a little to the ground, and could go no further, for gravity no longer had a hold on him. There he sat awhile, and thought about what the horse had said. Truly, he had moved without his Master, but he did not know how, and, try as he might, could not move any further.
Along came Mrs. Donkey, pulling a little cart, and said, “What have we here?”
Mr. Bicycle replied, “I have come down the hill here, but I cannot get back up the other side.”
“I can help you,” said Mrs. Donkey. She came close, hooking her cart onto the frame of Mr. Bicycle. Off they went, up the hill with ease. Mr. Bicycle felt light and free, as if he were flying! They did not move fast, but it was fun to move along without the burden of a rider.
It was not long, however, when Mr. Bicycle was left alone on the side of the road again. Mrs. Donkey had to turn down a trail to get back to her master, so Mr. Bicycle sat wondering how he could move forward again.
Soon, he heard a noise behind him. He could hear the sound of old Mr. Farm Truck coming put-put-putting along. As Mr. Farm Truck came alongside him, Mr. Bicycle let out with a sob, “How do you do it?! How do you move yourself along?”
Old Mr. Farm Truck could not hear very well, and did not say anything. Taking compassion on Mr. Bicycle, he towed him up into his truck bed, and they drove along together.
Now they were going fast! Mr. Bicycle was very pleased, because there was nothing that he liked better than going fast.
It began to grow dim as the sun was moving behind the mountains in the West. Mr. Farm Truck was about to turn onto a new road, and Mr. Bicycle found himself on the side of the road yet again. He sat there for a long, long time.
A thunderstorm rained water upon him for what seemed like ages. He was cold and miserable. He found himself a little rusty when the sun came out again.
Now he was in worse shape than ever before! He thought to himself, “I only wanted to move more and be free! Now I cannot even move at all. My chain is rusted, and I am useless.”
Then came his Master, on foot, and carrying a bag of tools. “Mr. Bicycle,” he said, “How did you get so far away?”
Mr. Bicycle told him all about it. He told his Master about what Mr. Horse had told him, and about Mr. Large Truck dislodging him from his place. He told about Mrs. Donkey, and old Mr. Farm Truck. He told him about the thunder and lightning and rain. When he was done telling his Master all about it, he was crying large tears, and wailed, “How will I ever be useful again?”
At that, his Master took out a can of oil and a rag, and began to clean and lubricate Mr. Bicycle’s chain. As he worked, he said, “Mr. Bicycle, I built you many years ago. I made you with a purpose. But that purpose only works if you yield to me, and wait on me. Since I built you, I can fix you, and we can ride along like new once again!”
And that is exactly what happened.Romans 6:12-14, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
To my friends who are carried along by whatever program or fast talker who comes along, please know this: eventually you will end up back along the side of the road. It is not a movement, or a program, or a fast-talking false preacher who should move you, but the hand of the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. No matter how rusty you get, simply yield back to His hand, and He will clean you up and repair you, and make you useful again – for His purpose. To my friends who believe that they must move people, please don’t. Instead, allow God’s people to be content waiting on Him and being a light to a dark world. Lead by example, and always encourage others to be totally dependent upon the Lord, and the power of HIS might.