Running Out of Gas

      A few weeks ago my car ran out of gas ... on two different occasions within a couple of weeks.  In my defense, the gas gauge on my car wasn't working.  After driving this vehicle for the past few years, I thought I had learned to tell when I really was low on gas.  Apparently I wasn't as familiar with my car than I thought I was; or maybe I just wasn't being as attentive as I should have been. 
      The first time it happened was on a Sunday night.  I was on my way home from worship.  I actually got to within about 100 feet of making it home.  I could clearly see my house.  I called my husband and he came to my rescue.  He brought the gas can and put enough fuel in my tank to get completely home and also make it to the gas station the next morning.  
      Well, one would have thought I had learned my lesson.   Not so, my friends.  Only a few days later it happened again.  This time I was at an intersection waiting to turn left.  The work day had ended and I was anxious to get home.  When the light changed to green, the car wouldn't go. 
       I'm sure the folks in cars behind me were quite frustrated and wondered why I was hindering their progress.  Two very nice young men kindly pushed my car out of the way so that others could move on.  They offered to help more; but I was within very close walking distance to a gas station, so I told them I would be fine. I thought surely I could get some help from there.   
     Seconds after they walked away, a friend from work pulled up behind me and asked if she could help.  She had to pick her child up from day care; but said she would come back.  I told her I knew I would be OK and for her to please go on home.  Nonetheless, she insisted on giving me her cell phone number before she left "just in case." 
     Just as I started that short walk, an old friend whom I hadn't seen in months drove by.  He stopped on the side of the road and said "Get in."  I tried to tell him it would be OK, and he replied something to the effect, "It's hot out here, I said get in."  So I did.  
      He drove me to the gas station.  Somebody he knew there had a gas can.  So I got the help I needed, visited with an old friend a little while and in a short time I was on my way home none the worse for the wear.  But maybe a little wiser.
     I learned several practical lessons from these experiences. Naturally I began to think of spiritual applications as well.   I love it when I'm able to relate the physical to the spiritual. Somehow things make more sense that way.   So where do I start??   Oh boy!  I think there may have to be two parts to this because so many things come to my mind.
      The first lesson I learned -- or perhaps I should say remembered-- is to be prepared.   A lot of other thoughts fall in line with this.  We all know a car needs gas to run.  It just won't drive on an empty tank.  Yet, I allowed myself to forget this very important rule.    
      We have to stop and re-fuel our automobiles on a pretty regular basis just to keep us going.  And when I forgot -- when I wasn't prepared -- what happened?   Well, I ran out of gas and stopped dead in the road.  That's what happened.  I didn't make it home on my home.  
     And it didn't make much difference how close I was, I still didn't make it home in own vehicle.  The first time I ran out of gas, I was only 100 feet from the house.  I could have walked there easily.  The second time I was 22 miles from home.  The distance made no difference in the overall result.  100 feet away or 22 miles away - the problem was the same.  My car was stuck on the side of the road.  
      The same is true of our spiritual lives.  It doesn't matter how long we've been Christians or how close we get to the end of our natural earthly life if we run out of spiritual gas and let ourselves get stuck on the side of the worldly road, we don't make it to our heavenly home.  If we let our faith and hope and love for God run out of our heart and soul, we just don't make it.  
     Folks we don't make it to heaven on an empty tank.  We have to be full of love for Christ.  We have to be walking in the light and abiding in His Word.  We have to be abound in good works.  We must bear the fruit of the Spirit and love our fellowman.    
     I'm reminded of the parable of the 10 virgins and so many comments could be made here.  The focal point of this parable is that 5 virgins were prepared.  Their lamps still had oil in them.  The bridegroom invited them in.  They made it home.  The 5 virgins were not prepared.  They ran out of oil (just like my car ran out of gas).  The bridegroom did not invite them.  They did not make it home.  
     God loves us so much and He wants us to be in heaven with Him.  But He wants those who come to Him to be prepared.  He wants us to want to be with Him.  He doesn't want hearts empty of faith and love.  
      Let's not let our souls run out of fuel like I allowed my car to run empty. Listen to what Christ told us in Luke 12:35-38:
      "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.  Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!"

         

       Our souls can't run on empty.  We'll end up stuck on the side of the road. I want to make it all the way home.

Don't you?

Christ above all things, 

Robin

    

What's Your Motivation?

    
        Since my last post, I've heard several great lessons from God's word.   What a great opportunity and privilege we have here in this country to worship our God in freedom!  How wonderful it is that Americans have this right!  I am increasingly thankful for this freedom.  It grows ever more precious to me.  I pray we never take it for granted and that this precious freedom is one we will always be able to keep. 
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      Recently I heard about a young man who stated he was going to steal something he wanted.  The adult he was speaking to asked him why he would do something like that.  This young man (and I'm talking around 10 or so) said simply,  "Because I can."  How sad is this!
      All too often people do harm or take advantage of others simply because they can.  Maybe it is an issue of pride or a desire to exert power or influence over someone -- which I guess is still an issue of pride.   I suppose this old world has heard the phrase "because I can" many times throughout its history.
       This is not always linked to harmful misdeeds.  Sometimes those who perform acts of kindness will say the same thing when asked why they have done so.  Often those who have done a good deed, will say "I was in the right place at the right time and had the opportunity, so I just did what I could."   The idea of doing what we can when we can is often a driving force for good in this world.        
      Most of the time though, the reasoning for our actions goes far beyond such a simple statement.  This is true no matter what the deed -- good or bad.   We don't usually act on what we can do unless we want to do it.  If the ability is there; but the desire is not -- then the deed often goes undone.
       Some acts are motivated by greed, envy or revenge.  Other are performed because of a sense of duty, in honor of something or someone, or a desire to do the right thing.   We all do things for a variety of reasons.  
      Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul addressed this subject with the Corinthian Christians in his first letter to them.   It seems some of these early Christians became overly concerned with their spiritual gifts.  Perhaps they had argued over whose gift was most valuable.  
      But in I Corinthians Chapter 12 Paul says that all Christians are important -- all of them had a responsibility to the church  -- to help it grow -- to reach out to others -- to teach -- to perform acts of benevolence -- to stand up for the truth -- to avoid false doctrine -- and to bring others to Christ.  Paul wanted each of them to know how valuable they were to the Lord.  
       This is as true for us today as it was for the Corinthians back then. We are each incredibly valuable to Jesus and we all have our part to do.  We are all uniquely created to serve Him in our own way.  Christ needs us all to bring His light into the world.   We matter to Him.  
      At the end of chapter 12, Paul tells them to "earnestly desire the higher gifts.  And I will show you a more excellent way."  Thus begins the beautiful chapter on love -- I Corinthians 13.   It is here that Paul addresses a Christian's motivation.   See Paul tells us that is doesn't matter how outstanding our gifts are,  it WHY we use them that is important.  It is our motivation that matters.
      Listen to the wonderful words of truth in I Corinthians 1:1-3:  "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging symbol.  And if I have a prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."
      See it doesn't matter how well we say something, if we don't speak with love in our hearts, then our words are meaningless.  They are just so much noise.   And regardless of how smart we are or how sure we are of  God's power if we don't treat others with kindness and love we are ... well God said it (through Paul) -- we are nothing.  
       What about those charitable acts we mentioned?  If we do them simply because we can or out of a sense of duty .. well, if no love is involved, we don't gain anything in God's eyes.  It is our love for Him that should guide us to do what we can when we can.  
        Jesus told us the greatest commandment is love.  It is what matters to Him most.  If we love Him -- truly love Him - that love will lead us to obedience.  If we love Him we will keep His commandments.  (John 14:15)  That love will guide all our actions.  Our words will ring true and give hope to others.  
       Love is the more excellent way Paul was talking about.  With love in our hearts we will be motivated to use our knowledge and faith to teach others about Christ and to encourage those who are weak.  With love as our reason for every action every day .. we will gain grace and favor with our God.  
       Love lasts forever.  It is what we should build our lives upon.  Any other reason renders us hopeless.   We know there are so many excellent verses about love.    But I will only leave you with two.  
           "Let all that you do be done in love."  
                                            (I Corinthians 16:14) 
          
         "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
          uncircumcision counts for anything, but only 
           faith working through love."   
                                                           (Galatians 5:6)

So I ask you ....... what's your motivation?

Christ above all things, 
Robin