Jesus Take the Wheel

The Department of Transportation once set aside $200 million dollars for research and testing of an automated Highway System. This system would purportedly relieve traffic woes by placing all cars that entered the highway on "super cruise control," allowing them to move in unison as they traveled in heavily congested cities.

Such travel would be made possible by using special magnets embedded in the asphalt every four feet, which would transfer signals between the vehicles and a main computer system. Steering, acceleration and braking would be controlled by sensors, computer navigation systems and cameras along the side of the road. Control would be returned to drivers as they exited the highway.


According to Mike Doble, Buick’s technology manager [at the time], ‘The only thing we can’t do yet is get people to comfortably trust the system. It’s not a technology issue." Mr. Doble asks, 'Would ‘you’ drive, closely spaced, at high speeds, through San Diego?’"

In a paper prepared for the University of California Transportation Center, Sanghyun Cheon writes, “…the extent to which motorists would accept reduced manual control of their vehicles and be willing to travel in automated vehicles at close following distance, on narrower lanes, and at higher speeds is not yet clear.”

The USDOT cancelled the NAHSC program in 1998, citing budget pressures, though many conjecture that the funding actually dried up, at least in large part, due to the public’s lack of enthusiasm (e.g., lack of trust and comfort level with the system) 
 
God has established a system that is intended to assist us as we travel through life--it's called grace! Grace is God's fail-safe system designed to put us in "super cruise control" when dealing with circumstances and relating to people. There is just one difficulty with the system--getting people to comfortably trust it. The truth is, we prefer to retain control of the steering wheel, even though it is this proclivity that drives us to discontentment and endless relational conflict. Rather than insisting on doing life our way, we should be crying out, "Jesus take to wheel!" 
 
Published: 1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories for Preachers, Teachers by Edward K. Rowell, p.209; National Automated Highway Research Program: A Review. TRB Special Report 253.
 
"Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).    Sometimes we have to let go and let God do the work in our lives.   We cannot depend upon what man can do for us because man will always fail us and forsake us but God has promised that He will never leave nor forsake us!   

Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the LORD will have faithful love surrounding him. Psalm 32:10  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act, Psalm 37:5 



How happy is the man who has put his trust in the LORD and has not turned to the proud or to those who run after lies!   Psalm 40:4 



Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah   Psalm 62:8 
 
With the LORD for me as my helper,
I will look in triumph on those who hate me.  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in nobles.  Psalm 118:7-9