Faith Like A Ferrari

Does your faith turn heads?

I had an interesting phone call a few weeks ago. I was supposed to go interview a woman about a fire she’d seen at a popular building in her town. There was bad weather coming in that day and I wanted to check in on the best time to visit with her.

As it turned out, our interview would have to wait a few hours.

“I have to move my car collection,” she said over the phone.

I paused for a moment. I don’t know too many people who have a car collection. I asked her what her collection looked like.

“I have 13 Ferraris.”

Yep. 13 Ferraris. I was dumbfounded! Her collection was worth over $4 million! Her garage was full of sports cars in multiple colors and styles dating back as far as the early 90s. She even had the Magnum P.I. Ferrari! She asked me if I’d like to come help her move them to a nearby airport hanger to ensure that the fast-approaching storm surge and salt water wouldn’t damage the cars in her waterfront garage.

I (giddily) agreed. I spent the morning driving around town in two different $150,000+ rockets. One in her collection was a 1-of-500 edition 360 Modena model. It’s very rare and very fast! People stared at us at stop lights. People yelled, “SWEET CAR!!!” out of windows as we sped away. It’d never sat in a car more valuable than my house before. It was a pretty great day.

Eventually, we got around to the interview.

That was weeks ago but I still remember it fondly. I saw another Ferrari yesterday while driving around town and it was gorgeous. It was sleek, black and beautiful. It got me thinking Ferraris as it relates to faith. I think there is a connection.

When is the last time you saw a television commercial for a Ferrari?

Let’s start with never. The product is so incredible that the company simply doesn’t need to advertise. Its reputation does all the work. You KNOW Ferrari makes a high-performing vehicle by its looks, it’s price and performance. The car’s value is obvious.

Can the same be said for your faith?

When you walk down the street is it obvious that you love God? That answer is probably no. It’s alright if it is. We just need to start finding ways for others to notice our faith in action. Ferraris turn heads. Ferraris are valuable. Ferraris are desirable. Our faith should be all those things, too.

The way for your faith to shine comes by your actions and speech. I call that ‘faith in action’.

The Bible explains it this way:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)”

Is your faith on display? Is it obvious? Or would someone have to ask? If you are living life with active faith it will be apparent to everyone. If someone were to describe your faith as an automobile, wouldn’t it be nice to hear it related to a Ferrari rather than a Dodge Dart? (no offense, Dart fans)

You can tell the difference between trees by the fruit growing from its branches. Apples, oranges and lemons all look different but, they all have one thing in common – they all produce fruit. Barren trees are no use to a hungry person. Productive, fruit filled trees, are life-giving.

Your faith should bear fruit. People should see your branches and KNOW that you are different. It doesn’t matter if your tree bears more kindness, more self-control, or more patience. All are good! All are needed! Your ‘faith in action’ will naturally bear fruit. It will naturally turn heads.

Do you have to tell people you’re a Christian? If you must advertise it, that’s a problem. Like a Ferrari, minimal advertising should be necessary. Earlier this month actress and performer Lady Gaga called United States Vice President Mike Pence (and his wife, Karen) “the worst representation" of a Christian. This was all in response to the Second Lady’s decision to work at a Christian school which held strong to its code of conduct disallowing anyone to be enrolled there who professed to be connected to or was practicing homosexuality, among other things. The Pences disagree with homosexuality. Gaga supports it. She puffed up her chest at a concert and bragged that she was a proper Christian. She added that her faith was superior to the Pences'.

If you must advertise your faith in Jesus, it’s a problem.

Strong guys don’t have to flex for you to see their muscles. Ferraris don’t have to win races to prove they’re fast. Your faith should be apparent from your actions.

I may never ride in another Ferrari. If that’s the case, at least I had a good time cruising the streets that day. It’s an incredible machine that leaves your heart in your throat at every green light.

Having experienced them, I grin now every time I see a Ferrari. I also think about the parallels between Ferraris and faith.

I hope my faith is active enough, and attractive enough, that it turns heads as easily as a bright red sports car.