Coasting Christians, Beware

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I just knew I was about to lift off and launch into the sky as I felt my bicycle picking up speed. I was coasting down the steep, mile-long stretch of U.S. Highway 231 from Tolbert’s Store. It was the 1950s. I was 10 years old.

Soon, I was no longer coasting. I was flying! The wind roared by me, stronger than I’d ever felt before. What freedom! It was the fastest my little 24-inch wheels had ever turned. In a moment I’d be turning onto the little dirt road toward home.

As I began to apply the brakes, my handlebars started wobbling out of control. I eased off the brakes, the handlebars stabilized, and I braked again. The wobble returned.

Coasting in Crisis

Fear gripped my mind. My little-boy heart was beating double time. My exit raced toward me. I knew I couldn’t make the turn at that speed.

No telling how many limbs would be broken when I crashed into the pavement. What do I do? Try to keep going straight and pray? Head for the ditch? Would I survive?

Fortunately, God watched over that foolish little boy (as He has done now for eight decades). Finally, my bike responded to the brakes without giving the handlebars a mind of their own. I made a safe exit.

Camp Meeting Sermon

Sixty years later, that childhood memory was triggered by Bro. Michael Mason’s sermon at Hartselle Camp Meeting. He preached on Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2:12:

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Bro. Michael carefully emphasized that Paul was writing to people who already professed to be Christ followers, so the text has nothing to do with the point at which we repent and come to faith in Christ. We don’t “work out” our own plan of salvation – God’s got that plan down pat.

Paul’s challenge is, “Don’t quit. Pray. Study God’s Word. Seek guidance. Worship with other believers.”

Coasting Under Control

The evangelist pulled out his own memory of coasting on his bicycle when he was a kid. But unlike mine, his story didn’t summon up a near-death fear. No, Bro. Michael painted a word picture of short, gentle ups and downs in the roads around his childhood home. Or coasting on a flat stretch until he could rest his legs for just a moment while the bike continued to roll forward. Don’t coast to a dead stop.

Many coasting Christians, the preacher said, once prayed faithfully, immersed themselves in the Word daily, served, taught, or preached. But then they coasted far, far away from God.

That brings us back to the point: We must not quit peddling altogether, must not quit praying, must not quit studying or serving or teaching or using whatever gifts God has given us. If we quit peddling, we’ll soon coast to a stop. Then there’s the danger that we may never start peddling again. Or coasting to a dead stop may lead me forever away from an authentic walk with Jesus.

“At age 52, I’m still breathing,” Bro. Michael said. “That gives me the idea that God still has something for me to do. I don’t know what’s in store for me when I’m 60 or when I reach 70, but I don’t want to miss it!”

His sermon reminds me never to trust coasting in my walk with Jesus. It could lead to a complete stop. Then there’s the danger that may lead me farther and farther away from a once vibrant relationship with Him.

Pedal on, brother, but no coasting! I hope to be peddling right there beside you.

(Editor’s note. This column is adapted from “Camp Meeting Preacher: A Challenge to Coasting Christians,” first posted by AFA in 2015).

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