Like a Car

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NLT

Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Imagine a group of cars all the same age. Some are expensive and others are lesser models. They all drive well and are brand new. There is something unique about this group of cars. They all have the same high powered engine.

Over the years the owners of these vehicles take care of the them differently. Some make sure the oil is changed regularly. They rotate the tires and keep the inside and out clean and shiny, just like when they were new.

Others pay less attention to the inside. The outside is as clean as the last rain storm and the inside is piled with empty fast food wrappers and coffee cups. They too change the oil on schedule and have all the maintenance items attended to.

An unfortunate few have had accidents. Some took their insurance checks and went on a cruise instead of getting the car fixed, so the dents are still there and the paint is chipping and rusting.

But the engines in all the cars still run like new filled with power and as such stay ahead of the pack on the super highways. When they zoom by other cars on the road the authority their engines have is evident. 

Does this story remind you of anything? As believers we all have Holy Spirit, the spirit of Christ living within. Our engines are all the same. But what about the vehicle He lives in? Are we taking care of it? Is it in bad shape or kept like new?

There is nothing as powerful or having as much authority as that engine in us--Holy Spirit. And Father God is blessed every time we step out and use what He has given us to help His children.

And it does not matter what our vehicle looks like. It does not matter if parts of it are broken or old or ugly or beautiful. When Jesus comes upon us it is He that is doing the work. It is He that is healing the hurts of other. It is Jesus healing their bodies. It is Jesus that brings freedom.