At some point, you may have heard the expression “to kick a tire” or perhaps you are too young, and not from the older generation we know as “baby boomers”. Those who remember recall visits to car lots, checking out cars where lifting hoods and kicking tires where almost a rite of passage, especially for fledgling first time buyers. I guess we wanted our dads to think we knew what we were doing before blowing a wad of bills, which took us a while to earn, for our much sought-after prize — our very own set of wheels. And to be even more impressive, we would even ask about the horsepower, the space in the trunk, and again return to kicking a tire or two, just to double check that it would sustain the many potholes and curbs we would hit in our travels. Yep, we had it down to a science, for sure.
This flagship expression about kicking tires started generations ago, at a time when vehicles began to appear on the scene (remember the model T Ford). It was during the horse and buggy days where small whips and leather reigns were needed most of all. Once ridership began to take greater interest in today’s four wheeled marvels, the mode of transport shifted too, traveling the rural routes and villages cars were the popular choice. The cryptic allure of car travel had captivated the nation — hay and feed were a thing of the past now that petrol could fuel bulky metal wagons on wheels. No more stopping and shoveling after your horse! Now you could zoom down the road at breakneck speed. Henry Ford’s mechanical invention went over 72km/h (which for generation X’ers is 45mph), and that was not even its top-end speed. It was during that transition from buggy to car that horse riders would dismount from their animals and kick a nearby car tire to dislodge the manure from their shoes (sounds a bit hokey but may have some truth to it, seeing we do almost the same in winter to clear the snow from our boots before entering our vehicles). Yet, another story has it that truckers would hit their tires with what looked liked a billy club to see if the truck tires had enough air in them, which goes on to this day. Whatever account you believe, one thing for sure is that today we still kick tires. You may catch yourself doing it next time you are in the market for a vehicle.
Proving a vehicle’s road worthiness is one thing but matters of great importance that impacts your life for the rest of your days requires more than kicking a few tires. Consider what happens to you after your death? What can be more meaningful than that? How would you know where to look for the answer? If you did, then would you act on it? We do have a trustworthy source in the Bible. Consider that the Bible came to us from God. He had it written for us to follow. Everything in it has either been fulfilled or will be in the future. Think about what you are basing your life on at this very moment. Are you figuring that someone else’s ideas like Darwin or Dawkins, experimenters who toyed with thoughts about life without God as trustworthy enough to base your life on? Or perhaps you have ideas of your own on life’s purpose and eternity? Have you tested them to see if they are true, do you feel confident enough to pursue them to the end, to follow your own path, or maybe your are not really sure? Whatever your thoughts are you should be made aware that God’s Word has stood the test of time and never proven wrong by its detractors. Consider how evolutionists speak how both millions of years and chance are needed for a species to originate. A vacuum of nothingness and lots of time plus chance are the factors behind the universe’s origin according to godless men and humanist alike; the Christian says God is the singular cause. To think that life just came from nowhere and formed itself into a unique and incredibly complex life system interwoven with such precise details even down to a bee whose ability to fly seems unlikely based on its structure, yet zips around in fields of flowers and plants, pollinating vast landscapes is only one remarkable feature of the wonders of nature, and to make sense of all of this just happened over time makes no sense. This remarkable handiwork belongs to God alone, the design of a powerful and all-wise God. To think it came about by sheer accident is implausible. Every molecule found in this universe and everything from a simple design to an intricate pattern of life is the engineering feat from our Maker and Saviour. We marvel at the things in our cosmos, plants, animals, planetary systems, man, everything in it and that He made man the caretaker of it all is something very special, indeed. Psalm 8:3-8 praises God for these reasons.
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.”
What a privilege it is for man to have been given authority over God’s creation. Yet, today it remains a sad commentary and testimony of mankind who choose to disgrace and deny God His rightful place as Creator and Saviour.
Solomon could testify about not forgetting His Creator. Even though he was guilty of that very thing later on in his rule, he spoke wisely about serving God especially in your early years.
“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them'” Eccl.12:1
If then you are an evolutionist or atheist, do reconsider your ideas. What proof can you possibly have to doubt God’s marvelous creative works? His hand prints are all over them! God set man in place to manage His world. He sent us His Son, Jesus Christ, His faithful servant who gave up His life for sinners to die on the cross so that eternal life may be received by all those who put their faith in Him and have their sins forgiven. Will you trust Him and turn from your sins to Christ in faith?