I’m installing a high-pressure fuel pump on my 1988 F-150. The truck has been stalling on me unexpectedly while driving around. The good news is that I have Triple A, the bad news is I’m not sure what is causing the problem. I have replaced the fuel filters, the ignition module, the distributer, the low-pressure fuel pump (which was in the gas tank). Each time the problem seemed to be fixed, only to stall out again after running for a while. I did have it towed to a garage after it had stalled while I was going over the I-75 Bridge, and was able to coast to the bottom and pull over. But after keeping it for a week, they could not get it to stall and so I took it back. There has to be an obvious consistent problem before the problem can be diagnosed. The problem was not even showing up as an identifiable code when checked by computer. So maybe today when I put the fuel pump on things will be fixed.
Am I a mechanic? No, I’m just curious. I want to know how things work and why they don’t work. I have discovered by curiosity or by necessity that if I can understand how something basically works I can make the connections and fix it. I have found that bad connections are often the culprit whether that bad connection is electrical or mechanical. I’ve also discovered that most of our problems relationally and spiritually involve a connection problem.
The connection in the Godhead that we understand as the trinity involves a relational dynamic that defies explanation. Our examination of the revealed truth concerning God shows us that he is one God in three persons and that this inter-Trinitarian relationship (as Jesus describes it in John 17), is a blessed existence. Jesus, being connected with the Father, has made a connection with us by joining a perfect human nature to his divine nature without any mixture of the two natures. In this way he is able to represent us in fulfilling all of the righteousness required in the law and to die in our place as our substitute for our sins. Our salvation is described in terms of connection. The Bible describes the Christian as being “in Christ” and that Christ is in us. Our experience of Christ is also described in terms of connection so that our life with Christ is described as branches abiding in a vine and producing fruit (John 15).
Fixing a car is one thing, but fixing a heart is Christ’s work, only he can do it. That does not mean there is nothing for us to do. Hebrews 12:12-14 reminds us that by faith in the grace that God provides for daily living, we will be involved in the much needed maintenance and repair work to be done in our connections with people and with Christ.
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:12-14)
