By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
My hubby has always been very good at keeping up with the maintenance on our vehicles. He keeps up with the oil changes, makes sure they have plenty of water and fluids.
But I recall a time several years ago when I was traveling down the road with the windows down, sun on my face, singing one of my favorite songs at the top of my lungs … “Your praise Lord, will always be on my lips, always be on my lips, Your praise Lord, will alwaaaaays be on my lips!!!!! ……,” when suddenly the engine started to sputter and the oil light came on. I instinctively stepped on the accelerator but the engine had died. (And I don’t think it was my singing that caused it. LOL!)
Now, I was traveling on the inside lane of a four lane highway with cars all around me. I remember saying out loud, “Lord make a way!” He did! So I fought the sluggish car for control, steering on to the shoulder where I rolled to a stop under a shade tree.
I called for a tow, and as I waited I tried to think what could be wrong with the engine. Well, as it turned out, the gas gauge had malfunctioned. Even though the gauge read a 1/4 of a tank, the car had simply … run out of fuel. Going 50 mph.! In heavy traffic!
The next day I was relaying all of this to a friend of mine when it occurred to me that this is a good example of what can happen if I pay too much attention to what’s going on outside, while neglecting my spiritual relationship with Christ.
Although the Lord makes this promise to born again believers in Heb. 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” our soul (mind/will/emotions) can draw away from Him.
I can spend a lot of time running full speed ahead, occupied with just life, problems, job, family, or even ministering to others. All may seem well within me for a time, the “I’ve got this,” form of pride. Yet, without the word of God keeping me filled up I will lose my momentum, become spiritually sluggish and suddenly to my surprise, find myself feeling completely empty inside in despair, anger, hurt, fearful or … just coasting off to the side somewhere.
Now, as I reflected on my relationship with God I realized that I had actually been “running on fumes for quite a while.” I would read my Bible daily, but without spending time in His presence and constant communication in my heart with His Holy Spirit throughout the day, my love walk with God will grow distinct. Again, God never moves away from us, but we neglect our relationship with Him.
Here is something else to consider, the fuel did not leak out of the car, I just didn’t realize it was running so close to empty.
And spiritually speaking, we are not leaky vessels, we are “SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory …”. We cannot just run out of faith. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. (Gal. 5:22-23
Our faith does not just evaporate into thin air, it begins to dwindle down and is slowly replaced with unbelief and doubt. We cannot trust the world, which will lie to us and tell us that “this is just normal everyday life.” Like the gas gauge, these are false readings! They are not accurate.
Isaiah 26:3 promises us this about the Lord, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For In YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3
You know, when I called for a tow, the person at the main number asked for my exact location but I was a little concerned that they would find me because my directions were somewhat sketchy. But as I sat on the side of the Highway with cars and trucks roaring past, suddenly I received a call from the tow truck driver, and I remember asking him, “Now do you know where I am?”
And Immediately he replied, “I know exactly where you are, I’ll be there in just a couple of minutes.” What comforting words!
Now here’s an awesome truth. We may have wandered off from God, but He has never lost sight of His children. He knows exactly where we are at all times. At any time we can do just like Peter did when he took his eyes off of Jesus in the storm. When he “began” to sink he called out to the Lord to save Him and “immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.”
You know, sometimes the best prayer is just, “Lord! HELP!” Lol.
And notice what happened after Peter and Jesus got back into the boat … the storm ceased.
Amen!!
(P.S. In case anyone is wondering, the oil light came on because when the engine died, it lost oil pressure, triggering the oil light to come on. Just FYI.)
(Matt. 14:25-31, Eph. 1:13-14.)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
