I wasn’t expecting to see such profound illustrations of grace on a regular TV show.
My husband isn’t a ‘petrolhead’ and rarely goes to car shows, but he does have an interest in old cars. We discovered the TV show Car S.O.S by accident when we turned the television on early to watch a different show. Several times we caught the ending where an unsuspecting car owner is given back his car in a fully restored state. It sounded intriguing so we started watching the entire show.
Each show begins with the TV hosts, Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend going to pick up an old car that has sat in a shed, garage or under a tarpaulin for anywhere from 5 to 40 years. Usually, the owner has bought the car intending to restore it. However, major health issues or tragedy have prevented them from completing the restoration, and their attachment to the car and their dream also means they have been unable to sell the car.
Unbeknownst to the owner, someone from their family writes to Car S.O.S explaining their situation. Generally, the car needs a lot of work, often because of the rust that has built up through years of standing idle. The cost in terms of new parts and man hours is enormous and beyond the means of most of the car owners. The middle part of the show is about the mechanical issues with occasional moments of comic relief or a visit to a car-related activity. The show ends with the shocked and emotional owner reunited with his car.
Car S.O.S accomplishes what the owner tried to do for a long time and failed. Giving the owner something he couldn’t achieve through hard work or payment is pure grace. The owner receives a gift he doesn’t ask for and yet greatly desires, a restored car.
It reminds me that Jesus accomplished for me what I couldn’t achieve by hard work or payment. I didn’t ask him to die for me. Yet, he died so I could receive the gift of forgiveness and a restored relationship with God, not just to enjoy now but for eternity.
