Who’s Driving Your Train?

Our life journey is a lot like a train ride. Sometimes plugging away at a steady pace, sometimes hurtling along at breakneck speed, and sometimes coming to a dead stop.

Steam locomotives pulled trains on tracks that were laid by workers long before the train was scheduled to start its journey. The tracks were laid, planning the paths to multiple locations, with many options for which track to take depending on the planned destination.

In order for the train to move it needed fuel. The fireman would shovel coal into the firebox to keep the fire burning hot, and spread the coals evenly to produce the steam to keep the train rolling along the tracks.

Passengers could then climb aboard and enjoy the journey in relative comfort, not worrying about how everything came together to get them to their destination. They could leave that to the engineer and the conductor.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.   
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Like the tracks that have been laid for the train, God has laid out the Truth for us to follow. The Scriptures are Truth, and the Truth is unchanging. On a train we aren’t able to change the course of the track and make it go in a different direction, even just slightly, even if that section of the track feels rough or uncomfortable. The track that the Scriptures have laid is to lead us to the destination of unity with our Lord. Even a slight deviation from the Truth can lead us astray and steer us off course.

There are tracks laid for every destination in our lives, all of the stops along our journey. The Scriptures lead us from one stop to the next. They guide us through the varying terrain of life in this world, providing a way through to smoother ground, to safety, to a close relationship with Jesus.

The tracks provide the direction for the journey.

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”   
Matthew 17:20

The train can’t move without fuel. Likewise, when the fire of our faith burns low we find it hard to progress on our journey. We need to feed the fire, through prayer, through reading the Word, through worship, through fellowship with other believers. This is what provides the steam to get us moving along the track, on our way to the next stop on our journey. 

For a smooth journey we need a constant, steady fire. And for that we need a constant, steady supply of fuel for our faith to burn bright.

The fuel provides the fire to keep the train moving.

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.   
2 Corinthians 10:5

The passengers on the train need to stay in the passenger cars. They cannot be allowed to climb on the outside of the train, or to wander into the engine car and get in the way of the fireman or the engineer. They cannot be allowed access to the controls of the train. They must stay contained to the passenger car and obey the rules of the railway.

The conductor may walk through the passenger car and acknowledge the passengers, he may even sit with them for a while and have a conversation. But they will not influence his leadership or management of the journey. He knows the destination and will make sure the train arrives there safely and on time.

Our thoughts and emotions have a place in our lives. But they cannot be given free rein to run amok and distract us from the course set before us. They cannot be the ones to choose the track we will take or the speed at which we travel. They must stay in their proper place and be taught to obey the direction and teaching of the Lord.

The passengers provide interest and amusement along the journey, they can interact with the conductor, the staff, and the other passengers, but they cannot be allowed to drive the train.

Who’s driving your train through life?

The Lord has established a journey for each of us. He is the conductor on this journey. Trust the tracks that have been laid, keep fueling your faith, and evict your emotions from the engine room.