The Parable of the '51 Chevy

There was an employer here in Corpus Christi who brought three of his employees into his office and handed them the keys to three identical !951 Chevy pickup trucks all painted jet black and retrofitted with Chevy 350 short block engines.

He gave all three a credit card and said come back in one year and report back to me.

When they got back the first guy stepped up and said…

I set out in my truck and headed to the east coast and traveled up the coast to Boston and parked on the beach and slept in the bed and watched the sun come up in the morning. Then I headed to the west coast to San Francisco and parked on the beach and watched the sunset. I met a beautiful young woman I bought her a wedding ring and we drove to Las Vegas and got married. I want you to meet her.

The second guy said. That truck you gave me was beautiful. I parked it in the garage so it would be protected it and occasionally I would take it to car shows sometimes as far away as San Antonio. I kept it cleaned and polished so I could return it to you in good shape.

The third guy said, it was a great truck but I used your credit card to improve it. I lowered the suspension, made some modifications on the engine and painted it Candy Apple Red with flame accents.

The employer told the first guy… this truck is now yours and I’m putting you in charge of my business. Let me see that wedding ring you bought on my credit card and congratulations on your new wife.

The employer told the second guy. You took really good care of my truck. Thank you. He took the keys and put the guy in charge of maintenance.

The employer told the third guy. You really fitted that truck to suit your own tastes. I suggest you find a job in that profession I don’t need you here.

Then the employer gave the keys to the head of maintenance and told him to change the truck back the way it was.

The employer is God. The truck is the Gospel and the employees are Christians.

The first guy took the Gospel all over the country and experienced the blessings associated with it. He had experiences that were of incalculable value.

The second guy was a caretaker of the Gospel. He loved it but only used it to associate with other people who loved it.

The third guy changed the Gospel and its message to suit his own tastes. He was not worthy of it.

I hope when Jesus comes that you all have put 100,000 miles on the Gospel message and it shows the signs of wear and use and your spiritual growth that comes from making the Gospel a part of your life.