Bumper Stickers

May 28, 2025

Bumper stickers—they are still stickin’ around! Many credit Forest Gill as the inventor of bumper stickers. Gill was a screen printer in Kansas City. In 1941 after significant developments with vinyl and fluorescent inks, he created the first self-sticking bumper stickers. The original use was primarily to help with advertising campaigns. The marketing campaigns were memorable and sticky, causing the fame of bumper stickers to quickly spread.

We probably have all seen a few through the years. Have you ever seen cars that are completely covered in bumper stickers—bumper to bumper and top to bottom? It’s a colorful and even somewhat confusing sight. Perhaps it started the vinyl car wrap trend that we are seeing these days!

People use bumper stickers on more than just car bumpers! Nowadays, you can find them stuck on refrigerators, doors, water bottles, computers, mirrors, windows, and more.

Many of us may be familiar with the classic bumper stickers like: Caution: Baby On Board, New Student Driver, My Child Is an Honor Student at. . ., I’m voting for. . . etc., etc.!

In addition to some of the well-known bumper stickers, there are also clever bumper stickers like: My Driving Scares Me Too, I’m Not Lost–I’m Exploring, Yes Officer I Did See the Speed Limit Sign I Just Didn’t See You, Free Airbag Test Get Closer, 26.2 (Oreos I can eat in one sitting)! There are many bumper stickers that just may have you laughing out loud or pulling out your phone for a quick pic or video to tell your friends about later or post on social media.

I pulled up behind a car at a stoplight as we were waiting for the light to turn green. I quickly noticed a bumper sticker on the back window of the car in front of me. It said, “Sorry for driving/tailgating so close in front of you!” I had to laugh. Thankfully, I wasn’t tailgating. Though close enough to read it, I was just stopped behind the vehicle at the stop light!

This bumper sticker had me thinking. I’m guilty.  Though I wasn’t tailgating this car sitting in front of me, I cannot truthfully declare that I have never tailgated while driving.  Whatever the excuse, I have tailgated other vehicles.

This may sound a bit crazy, but as I kept driving, I thought to myself, “Do I tailgate God?”  Clearly, I am guilty of driving too close to others, but how am I doing at following closely after God?  Am I close enough to hear what He wants to say to me?  He always has something more to share.

There are scriptures throughout the Bible that help us prioritize and navigate a life up close to Jesus.

James 4:7-8 teaches us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. . .” (ESV).

Deuteronomy 13:4 says, “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him and keep his commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him” (ESV).

Galatians 5:25 declares, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (ESV).

I need to make myself a bumper sticker that continually questions me, “Are you following Jesus this closely?” How about you? Are you driving through life closer to others than you are to the Lord Himself?  You can coarse correct!

Pray now and ask God to instruct you in the ways you can stick closer to Him by the power of His Holy Spirit! What is your bumper sticker declaration to God today?  Be careful to not simply post it or stick it somewhere but be intentional to live it out with Him!

How can you make Monumental Moments and live to multiply His movement today?

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