“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
My family is sick of hearing about it. I have an obsession, and it’s a car. An electric car. No, it’s not one of those puny eco-gadgets that practically needs an extension cord dragging behind it. It’s a high-performance kick-you-in-the-back car. I want one so badly I can taste it. I dream of the day when I own my Tesla.
It all started a couple of years ago when my son asked me to take him to the car show in downtown Denver. We saw lots of cool cars, including a concept electric car (I think it was a Pontiac). Some time later, I decided to see what the state of the art was, so I googled “electric cars” and I found it. The Tesla Roadster. 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, 300 miles on a charge. Body by Lotus. What’s not to love. Oh, did I mention the $105,000 (US) price tag?
When I turned 50, my wife had a friend make a cake with a Roadster on it (probably the closest I’ll ever get). For a birthday present, my son gave me an “IOU one Tesla test drive”. I wasn’t sure that we would actually drive up to Boulder some day and drive one, but he pursued it and found a test-drive event in downtown Denver. Afterwards, my wife says we had goofy grins on our faces for days. It is literally the most fun I’ve ever had, anywhere. The only thing saving my marriage is that it’s too awkward for me to get in/out of the car, so I can’t seriously consider owning one.
Enter the Model S. Tesla is moving from the high-end, exclusive toy car market into the luxury sedan market. It has most of the specs of the Roadster with a form-factor more accommodating to my body. Except it doesn’t exist yet. But I have a plan. You see, my daughter will turn 16 in 3 years, at which time I’ll give her my Subaru and replace it with a Tesla. Three years may seem like a long time, but I can already see the day when I’m driving a high-performance all-electric car. If I can afford it.
So one day I started thinking. I look forward to this car. I dream about this car. I feel about it as if it is already a reality. But it’s just a car. Through the atoning death of Jesus, God promises me an eternity in his presence, free from the curse of sin, sickness, and death. I’m not exactly sure what that is like (I haven’t had a chance to test-drive eternity yet), but surely it’s better than a car.
The Bible reminds Christians that we are strangers and aliens in this world. It’s not our final destination. Home is a much better place than where we are now. Do you think about it? Do you dream about it? Is it practically real to you? If not, why not? Every time I fantasize about my new car (someday), I’m challenged to dream of my new home in the city whose designer and builder is God. Because even Tesla will pass away. But the Word of the Lord is eternal. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
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