I keep a tiny Jesus figurine on the dash of my car. I stand it up in front of my odometer, right in the middle of the entire digital display, the better to center myself on the good and right and holy, so I think.

Except I keep having to stand Tiny Jesus back up! At least once a day, it falls over. I don’t usually notice when it happens. It’s almost always the next morning when I’ve gotten in the car to take on the day that I see it fallen on its side. 

“Stand up, Jesus!” I declare, as if I have some power over the form and can, with my words, make a miracle happen. 

It is slightly rubbery and pleasant in my palm, and I hold on to it for a moment longer than necessary. Imitation Jesus smiles back at me and wears an aqua-colored sash that says “Jesus loves you.” 

In my mind, however, I want Jesus to do far more than just love me:

“Stand up, Jesus! Look around and come do something to fix this mess of a world!”

“Stand up, Jesus! Do you notice what I’m going through, what all of us are dealing with? We’ve all got our own set of problems.”

Then, I’m stricken with guilt; little old me, accusing Jesus as if I have the right, and I shift my tone in repentance:

“Stand up, Jesus! I’m so sorry I let you fall to the side! Be the King of my heart and help me maintain my focus on you.”

“Stand up, Jesus! Why do I have to do this to You every day? Why don’t you just stay where I put You?”

Oh, woe is me, for I’m sounding like Bruce Almighty, a TV reporter played by Jim Carrey who takes God to task, charging Him with doing a poor job of running the world. He states, “God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I’m the ant. He could fix my life in five minutes if He wanted to, but He’d rather burn off my feelers and watch me squirm.”

Bruce quickly finds himself in the hot seat when God, played by Morgan Freeman, allows Bruce to run the world for one week to see if he could do a better job.

It reminds me of my place in the grand scheme of things, how God can use movies and tiny Jesus figurines and my own rambling thoughts to shine some light on His workings.

I do need to keep my focus on Jesus every day. It’s so easy to let distractions detract from the One who should be the center of my attention. Starting the day with Scripture and prayer centers me in the Truth, but I’m human. I have headaches, backaches, frustrations, deliberations, and chaos to deal with. I have to get the dog to the vet, the dinner cooked, the dishes done. 

I have to deal with people. Lord knows how we all have to deal with people. We could spend much more time feeling holy and righteous were we to stay in singleton cocoons with our favorite snacks and drinks and beautifully illustrated Bible studies. 

And we have to deal with ourselves. Left to my own devices, my thoughts will drift to things that aren’t pleasing to God, and I find Imitation Jesus tumped to one side in my heart, just like a toy destined for a bin at the thrift store.

But God does not throw us away when we falter in our all-too-present humanity:

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Romans 8:34 NIV

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Hebrews 7:23-25 NIV

Jesus is busy. He’s not just sitting in Heaven twiddling His thumbs. Rather, He’s our Advocate, interceding for us with God the Father. We might forget to pray, but Jesus? Nothing escapes His attention, and we can rest knowing that He is actively working in our lives.

And more than that: He stood in the gap for us, taking our sins and our rightful punishment upon Himself, giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45, Matthew 20:28).

How dare I accuse Jesus of not doing His job! He’s not fallen down, and he’s not taking a coffee break. Neither does he get busy and frantic and try to cross too many things off His list at once, the way we often do. 

When our lives get busy, when we get distracted, when we sin, when we neglect to keep our focus on the One Who gave His all for us—may we remember that He has never failed to keep His eyes fixed upon us. He loves us so much that He gave His life for us. 

He’s no little Jesus. He’s the King of the Universe, and His Spirit can fill your heart and give you the abundant life He so desires to give to all (John 10:10).

I’ll probably stand up my tiny Jesus in just a little while, when I get in my car to go to church.

And when I do, I’ll praise Real Jesus for being the Savior of my heart, for being Big Jesus, Advocate Jesus, Loving Jesus, Dying Jesus, and Resurrection Jesus.

He’s far better than the imitation one I’ve got to keep propping up.