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I pressed the gas pedal, but the car wouldn’t go any faster. The engine whined, sounding stressed, but the car was slowing, which was just the opposite of what it was supposed to do. I could hear the undeniable sound.

The car was not shifting gears.

Anger swept over me. There I was, slowing down traffic in a car I had only had for a couple of months. The one I had already taken by the dealership and told them was acting up. The one I was taking to the dealership at that very moment because I knew it was going to give out and stop working.

I knew it was the transmission. I’m not an idiot. I know the role of the transmission, I know what it’s supposed to do when it works properly and I know what it does when it’s not working as it should.

And this one was going out.

With my hazard lights flashing, I crept along at about 40 mph, trying to coast downhill and pick up speed where I could.

Anyone that was out on that road knew something was wrong. Cars were passing me and I held my hands up in frustration, showing I was helpless to go faster.

Almost there.

I called the dealership and asked for the service department. The tech who had been working with me for weeks about this issue answered.

“Well, it’s happening. Just like I said. I told you the transmission was going out.”

He was quiet. I knew he was searching for a proper response. “I’m sorry it’s acting up. We just couldn’t get it to throw any codes when you brought it in.”

The 5 times I had brought it in actually.

Oh, I was mad. I hung up. Just a little further. I was sweating. My stomach was in knots. I did not want to break down in the middle of the road. My brain started concocting all sorts of scenarios about breaking down and cars slamming into me, people getting mad, no one helping, my husband not answering his phone, etc…

There it was. The dealership. I just had to get in the turning lane, not stop, and make a left hand turn on one of the busiest highways in town.

Phone in my hand, dialing the dealership once again, I made my approach to the entrance and miraculously, it was clear and I coasted into that parking lot.

“Get out here and get in this car. Tell me my transmission is not going out.”

At this point, the tech guy and I had already had many, many conversations.

I jumped out, ran to the passenger side as he hopped in the driver’s seat.

He put it in drive and pressed the gas pedal.

Nothing.

The engine whined but there was no motion.

“Is that enough proof for you?!”

The gospel is true. That was Paul’s message to the believers at Corinth. All of it. Not just parts of it, but all of it. Including the bodily resurrection.

Throughout 1 Corinthians 15, Paul had been laying out evidence of the truth of the gospel.

⁃ eye-witnesses who saw Christ in His resurrected body (5-8)

⁃ the resurrection itself (12-20)

⁃ death came to all men/women because of one man’s sin (Adam), therefore life came to all men/women due to one Man’s sacrifice and resurrection (Jesus) (21-23)

⁃ Paul and the other apostles risked their lives daily and faced great persecution for this truth (30-31)

Many of the believers said they believed Christ rose from the dead but thought only their soul would go to heaven, not that they too would have a bodily resurrection. But Paul urged them to consider all the evidence and know that if Christ rose from the dead so would His followers.

These were all key pieces of evidence to the truth of the gospel. So, what should be the result?

“34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”

Think about the facts.

Believe the truth.

Stop sinning.

For some, recognize that you may not even be saved.

Today, we are confronted with the same clear message, evidence and truth.

What will we do with the Gospel?

Will we believe? Will we follow Jesus as He commanded? Will we take what we know and share it? Will we commit our lives to Him?

This is the most important decision of your life. The evidence is there. Will you believe it?