Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Cash for Clunkers

Recently, the U.S. Government passed legislation providing vouchers valued from $3,500 to $4,500 when you trade in a vehicle and purchase a new one that meets or exceeds higher MPG standards.

While thousands of people are making their way to participating dealers with their "clunker" vehicles and expecting cash in return, there are also thousands of people who would give anything to trade in what their life has become for something that would give them a sense of value and purpose - something maybe even brand new.

Did you know that there's a cash-for-clunkers story in the Bible? Now, I'm not sure what they traded back in those days for cash. Perhaps cash-for-donkeys or cash-for-oxen was what made the headlines of the day. But that's not the story I'm referring to. The trade-in I want to talk about has to do with a paralytic, and it would take the help of his friends to make sure he received his voucher. His story is found in Mark 2:1-12 . Jesus was in Capernaum preaching, and such a large crowd gathered at this certain place that there was standing room only.

Four of the paralytic's friends were trying desperately to get him to Jesus but couldn't because of the crowd. So they did what most Christians today would do - they gave up in resignation and sighed, "Well, God knows our hearts. After all, we've done far more for this guy than the church down the street." No, their compassion took them further than today's average Christianity ever would. They cut a hole in the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching and lowered their friend down to where Jesus was. And the man was given the opportunity to trade in his broken, paralyzed body for one that was made completely brand new by Jesus.

There are a couple of thoughts I have about this story. First, there was no denying that this guy had a real need. It was visible to everyone around him including himself. He didn't need to be convinced that he needed a trade-in. Second, it took people who loved him and were healthy themselves to get him the help he needed. Without the intervention of his friends, he would have likely died a paralytic and never made the Scriptural account. And third, it took the love and miracle-working power of Jesus to replace the only life he had possibly ever known.

Here are a few questions in closing that may deserve consideration. Do you see the lost and hurting people around you as lost and hurting, or do you see them as just the people you work with and see on a regular basis who don't have the same religion that you do? What extremes are you willing to go to if it means getting those you love and care about to Jesus? And if the salvation of your friends is up to the kind of faith you have in God, what chance do they have of making heaven their eternal home? When the faith and compassion of a few friends meet a miracle-working and compassionate God, lives can be made brand new, and that's something even the U.S. government can't guarantee.

* (http://www.gm.com/cash-for-clunkers/)