“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 NKJV
Imagine if cars could share their feelings with you. Sure, some will tell you they feel ignored as they sit in driveways, dark garages, or defy their purpose as they remain parked, unmoved doing these last several weeks. I wonder what they would say to you if they became animated and were truly honest with you. Hopefully, just a “side note,” your Bible has not been untouched as we go through this present pandemic. I’m serious about that statement. Hopefully you are being filled up with a new sense of holiness during this extra time you have been afforded. I wandered away from my intro line intentionally, but let me get back to my car story. If my car were to express its feelings, it would express gratitude and excitement generated by a new sensation and a novel experience. You see, typically, it does not ever experience what a full tank of gas feels like. That’s because my strategy is to buy only enough to get me through the week, so the gasoline gauge never goes beyond half-full during normal times. But yesterday, on an “essential” breakaway from the house to go to the store, I stopped to get air in my tires. I noticed that the declining gas price had gone down as I look at the posted per gallon price while my car’s tires were being filled. I’m sure that the car loved this special attention, much like getting a massage or a manicure, and it would probably share its feelings if it could have. After filling my tires, I decided to take advantage of the lowering prices of gasoline; take advantage of something good during all these trying times. So I filled up the tank. It was nearly three-quarters full, but I could not pass the selling prices. Now, if my car could have shared its feelings at that very moment, it would have been shouting aloud, popping gaskets, overheating, and waving its windshield wipers in the spring air. It would probably yell out, “Thank you! You’ve been so good – to me!” And after shouting and maybe shifting to high speeds because in lieu of some type of holy dance on the streets, my car would have probably told me, “Don’t make this the last time!”
Whatever good spiritual habits and faith strengthening things you have done during our lockdown or sheltering in period, don’t make it the last time that your spirituality gets to the point of being filled. You have prayed regularly over the past few weeks! Don’t make it the last time! You have found ways to have family worship in the house like never before! Don’t make it the last time! You have searched the internet for songs to encourage you and carry you through! You have been entertained by hilarious videos that are make you laugh while simultaneously causing you to realize that trouble does not last always or the blood still works. Don’t make it the last time! Even on Sundays, you have regularly watched some streaming preaching and said amen more than you do when you are in the house of the Lord! Don’t make it the last time! Have a great day! Take the advice in my imaginary car parable! Don’t make it the last time! Be blessed!
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” – Psalm 16:9 KJV
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King