Start Your Engine

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his morning I already have items that will require my attention at various points during the day. My calendar has appointments beginning just after I arrive in the office.  I also have some reports to review, a meeting to attend, some phone calls to make, and, no doubt, there will be plenty of e-mail to answer. My day is already full and I haven’t even left the house yet!  Does this sound familiar to you?  Some days just seemed to be filled with more responsibilities than others and before they get started, they are over.  That’s just the way it is.

The interesting part is this, all these activities represent a mere fraction of what today holds.  The items listed above are the things I have on my calendar; I have no idea what God has on His for today but I’m sure that I will find out before this day is over.  My car, sitting quietly in the garage, is waiting for me to jump in and start its engine.  I will point it in one direction but who knows, there may be several places it takes me that are simply not considerations at this moment. 

There is a story in the New Testament book of Acts that expresses this very idea.  Philip started his day heading in a southerly direction.  Before the day was over, however, he had made a new friend, ridden in a chariot, taught a Bible lesson, and had gone swimming.  None of these things were on his “to do” list for the day but the list was amended as the day progressed.

Let’s take a brief look at Philip’s day and see how events unfolded after he started his engine. Acts 8:27 simply says, “So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship"

At first glance this passage seems to be just a simple explanation of a routine journey from one place to another.  On the surface we know that Philip began his journey and met a man from Ethiopia who held an important position in the government.  We also learn that at this time Candace was queen of the Ethiopians and that the man’s purpose for being in Jerusalem was to worship.  But if that is all we see in this verse, we need to have our eyes examined.  There is so much more, a great lesson which centers around just two little phrases, “he started out” and “on his way.”

Just before today’s passage, Philip received instructions form an angel that he was to journey south.  So Philip started his journey. This is the most important point in today’s lesson.  So often we receive a clear directive from the Lord.  We know what we are to do, we are certain of where we need to go, and we become aware of the next step we are to take.  So often, however, we fail to start out, never quite getting on the road. Things creep in, other appointments clog our schedules and we find ourselves at the end of the day in the same place we occupied at the beginning.  Although we “did” a lot of things, we made no forward progress in our walk with the Lord.

But starting out was only the first part of the journey.  Philip started the engine and traveled in the indicated direction but there was an unforeseen stop along the way.  Actually, this is what the Lord had planned for Philip all along but Philip wasn’t aware of it until he heard the Ethiopian man reading from the book of Isaiah.  The angel told him to go to the man and when Philip did, he had an opportunity to explain the Scriptures and share the gospel with him.  None of this would have been possible had Philip not started his engine. 

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nd where are you headed today, my friend?  Have you started your engine?  Are you ready to start out, heading in the direction God has for you today?  Who knows what situations await you or whose life you may touch today.  Whatever you do and wherever you are, I pray that God will use you to touch those around you.  Don’t be surprised if you make several “unforeseen stops” along the way.  That is the blessing of the journey and the wonderful privilege of serving Jesus Christ.  Have you started your engine today?

How Low Can You Go?

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t was a gorgeous Friday afternoon. I had just finished teaching my last class and was enjoying the drive back home.  The sun was shining, the sky was clear, the music was pleasant, and I was feeling great!!  Everything was going my way, no problems in sight!

All that changed in a split second!  One glance at my instrument panel sent a wave of fear over me.  Suddenly, the music didn't seem so cheerful, the weather didn't seem so pleasant, and the weekend seemed like an eternity away.  The needle on my fuel gauge was parked right on empty.  There was no distance between the needle and the E!  I was riding on fumes, hoping against hope the car wouldn't stop on the freeway!

I quickly calculated the distance to the nearest gas station and began praying.  I was praying and driving, driving and praying, doing my best to remain calm in the face of this desperate situation.  I normally keep a close watch on my fuel levels but this particular week, I hadn't kept as close a watch and I was paying for it.

Finally, I saw my exit, left the freeway, and pulled into the filling station.  The gas wasn't the most inexpensive, but I didn't have any choice. I was just glad to have the opportunity to fill my tank, regardless of price!  While I stood there, slowing my breathing, I reflected on what had just happened. If I had paid closer attention to my gauges, I would have had no worries and I could have paid less for gas.  As it was, I was scared, worried, and a few bucks over budget for gasoline that week.

My adventure at the gas pump has a direct parallel in the New Testament.  In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins who were awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom so they could go in with him to the marriage feast.  Five of them brought extra oil for their lamps and five of them didn't.  When the bridegroom came, five of them were ready to go in but the other five were not.

Matthew 25:3 reveals Jesus’ assessment of those who were not ready, who didn't pay attention to their fuel levels. “The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.”  These five did only half the job!  They took their lamps, they made provision for the short term, but they brought no oil in case the party started later.  That is exactly what happened.  The bridegroom delayed his coming and their oil ran out.

When the groom came, they were unprepared to meet him.  They asked their five friends to share oil with them but they refused lest there not be enough oil for them.  While the five foolish virgins went to buy oil, the bridegroom came and they missed the party!

The application for us is a good one.  How low can we go before we realize we are in trouble?  How often do we pay attention to the fuel gauges in our spiritual lives?  Are we keeping our tanks full, drawing our supply from God and his word?  Are we refueling our lives from his provision, running on the fuel he provides?  Or are we like the five foolish virgins, making provision for the short term but never thinking ahead?

When we fail to keep our tanks filled, when we let them run dry, then we run a great risk.  We will stop to fill them at the nearest station, taking on lower grade fuel at a higher price and we always pay for it.  God never intends for this to happen to us. He provides the best fuel in constant supply.  All we need do is fill our tanks each day and keep a watch on our gauges.  The world cannot supply the fuel we need; it can only come from God.

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o, what does your fuel gauge read?  Do you have a full tank, half of a tank, or are you slap on empty?  Are you enjoying the ride or are you panicking today?