Dr. Herbert C. Jackson was a 20th-century American missionary who later became a seminary professor, publishing several articles for journals about theology in Christian missions, as well as mission strategies. I came across a story Jackson told his seminary students about something that happened during his first assignment as a young missionary.
The car Jackson was assigned was old and would not start without a push. After thinking about the situation, Jackson devised a plan. He decided to go to a school near his home and ask permission to get some children out of class to help him push his car off. He then decided to either always park on a hill, or leave the engine running every time he had to park somewhere. For two years, Jackson used the same tactics any time he needed to use his car.
After two years, his family had to leave the station, and a new missionary arrived to take Jackson’s job.
The old car would be the new missionary’s means of transportation as well, so Jackson started to explain the issue to his replacement. As Jackson spoke, the young minister lifted the hood of the car and proceeded to look inside. Before Jackson finished explaining his strategy to get the car to start, the new missionary interrupted him:
“Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable,” said the young man.
He proceeded to twist the cable, got in the car and turned the key. To Jackson’s surprise, the engine started right away.
The article continues: “For two years, needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.”
I am currently reading a book by R.A. Torrey titled “The Holy Spirit – Who He Is and What He Does.” A classic in Christian literature, the book is a collection of Torrey’s sermons shared by the pastor-turned-evangelist during his worldwide crusades between 1902 and 1912. The book is perhaps one of the most insightful, challenging manuscripts on the subject.
As I read the story about Jackson’s car experience, I could not help but think about one of the principles Torrey stresses out throughout his book: the omnipotent power of God. Throughout the book, Torrey teaches that God longs to make His infinite wisdom, direction, and power available to all believers who seek an intimate relationship with Him through prayer and the study of scriptures.
God longs to make his infinite wisdom, direction, and power available to all believers who seek an intimate relationship with Him through prayer and the study of scriptures. #HolySpirit #MondayMotivation @AJC Share on XI was praying with a young lady earlier this week, and, as I started interceding for something she asked me to pray for, I felt a nudge in my spirit to pray for someone else as well. In doing so, my prayer extended for several minutes. I could feel her fidgeting as the prayer went on longer than she anticipated. After I finished, she looked at me and said: “I simply can’t pray for that long. I feel anxious, ready to move on.”
I appreciate her honesty. I believe that this is a common issue and one that is becoming increasingly rampant in the church, as people make little time for God in their daily lives.
The problem is that God is not a sort of genie that we call upon with a list of our three wishes every morning. Instead, God is in the business of developing a relationship with His creation. And unless his children make time to, as the psalmist said: “Be still and know” that He is God, they will never think to look under the hood and connect the wire that brings the power needed to accomplish His purposes for their lives.
The problem is that God is not a sort of genie that we call upon with a list of our three wishes every morning. Instead, God is in the business of developing a relationship with His creation. @AJC #MondayMotivation Share on XAnd so, we find churches filled with activities, but empty of power; preaching filled with emotions, but lacking direction and conviction; and believers that don’t miss one service or mass, but fidget under the preacher’s voice.
Could it be that we lack peace, purpose, direction and power, only because we are living on our own strength, and, like young Jackson, failing to connect the wire that ignites the power of God in our lives??
This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday – February 1, 2020. Click Here to read it on the AJC website.
