04.02.07

When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. - Luke 19:28-35 NKJV.

Carjacking has become a serious problem in the United States. Statistics on a national level available for the five-year period of 1998-2002 indicates that there were 2.1 carjackings per 10,000 people a year. This was an increase from 1.3 per 10,000 people during the previous five-year period. In 74 percent of the carjackings, a weapon was used. However, according to one police officer when a man with his head covered comes at you yelling obscenities most people will let them have their car, even if the carjacker does not have a weapon.

Penalties for carjacking are severe, because the federal Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 made it a federal offense with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The 1994 Crime Bill increased the punishment to include the death penalty if an innocent victim is killed as a result of the crime. Although severe, the punishments do not quite measure up to the Old West punishments for horse stealing. In the Old West, a horse thief if caught was quickly put to death by hanging. One page I found about the reasons for this said, “A man coveted his possessions in the west in this order: first his horse, second his rifle, third his dog, and fourth his wife. Steal his wife but beware of the wrath rendered if one was to steal his horse.”

Depending upon the situation, usually you are safer just to give your vehicle to the carjacker instead of risking the outcome of a confrontation. All of us, however, would be upset if we were the victim of a carjacking. But what if we found someone stealing our car and when we asked them what they were doing they said, “Because the Lord has need of it.” Our first response might be, “You’ve got to be kidding!”

I am amazed at the depth of faith that the owners of the donkey had when they willing gave it to the disciples for use by Jesus. Once they knew that Jesus needed their donkey, there was no need for further questions they simply allowed the animal to be taken. The owners in effect gave the keys to Jesus.

Jesus is still asking for the keys. He wants the keys to your heart. He wants the keys to your time. He wants the keys to your money. He wants the keys to all of your possessions. What usually happens when you hear that still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you about what Jesus wants in your life? What usually happens for the vast majority of Christians is that they act as if Jesus is a carjacker trying to wrench something away from them. Is that how you have responded when the Holy Spirit speaks and says, “The Lord has need of it?”

When we receive Christ as our Savior, we often speak of giving our heart to the Lord. The spiritual fact is that it was not to be a temporary condition. Your heart was not something that the Lord wanted for a few minutes of time. No, He still has need of your heart, and all that you are and have. Isn’t it time that you give Him the keys?