The Divine Mechanic | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Divine Mechanic | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ernest Yoder
12/04/14
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The Divine Mechanic

The following occurred on Aug.4, 2014.

Let me tell you a story. A story about how God also is interested in the “little” matters of life, even if they are not of the “spiritual” variety. Or this may be one of those situations that many would consider not worth His bother. I’d like to share with you how God blessed me in this insignificant event that some would simply chalk up to coincidence – but I don’t.

Let me begin by saying I am a farmer as well as well as the pastor of a small country church. I needed to replace the distributor on this old tractor, a model TO35 Ferguson of mid 1950s vintage that has been a part of our family since it was purchased new by my father now gone to be with the Lord. Because of its background, can you see why this is not just any tractor? I mean, I grew up with this gem. It is nearly as old as I am. Thankfully I am not as rusty. We’ve been through lots of thick and thin together and I intend to extend the hand of mercy someday soon and restore it.

Anyway this faithful old friend needed a new distributor. Now a distributor can be a tricky component to successfully replace with all the installation and timing issues associated with such replacement. If the prescribed steps are not followed properly and precisely, the engine will either not start or backfire dreadfully. So I expected an arduous task ahead for me.

First I had to rotate the engine so that the number one piston was positioned at precisely six degrees before top dead center. I rotated the engine by hand to where I thought, but did not know for sure, the number one piston would be properly positioned.

The next challenge was to mesh the helical distributor driven gear to the precise tooth in the engine drive gear. Next the distributor needed to be rotated to the exact position for the spark to fire at the exact millisecond in each of the four combustion chambers driving the pistons downward on the power strokes. I tried to use an educated guess for each of these individual procedures. I checked the gap at the points and attached the plug wires. I was now ready to engage the starter. I switched on the ignition and pressed the starter button. To my utter astonishment the engine fired with no hesitation or backfiring and purred like a kitten – a little louder though. No additional adjustment was needed at all. I absolutely did not expect that to happen.

What occurred is virtually unheard of. But all of these adjustments, the engine rotation, the gear positioning of the distributor, the timing, etc, was accomplished at the first attempt with no additional tinkering required. I was as surprised as I could be. I cannot claim credit or exceptional expertise because I had experienced quite some frustration on previous occasions. I believe God wanted me to have an extra confirmation of His care for me that day. I also believe God was simply showing me that He is interested in the little things in life too. He guided my hands. After all He established the laws of physics that engines run by. Indeed, along with being the Creator of the macro, He also touches the micro. He is the divine Mechanic and as such He made my day. Our church was also blessed when I told this story the next Sunday during sharing time. Thank You God.

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