Running Out of Gas For the Last Time, Maybe!

Running Out of Gas for the Last Time, Maybe!Dr. Vince Hefner, PastorFirst Baptist ChurchCherryville, North CarolinaEverybody has different ways to bring excitement into their lives. Some people get excited by watching sporting events. As a matter of fact, I am waiting for the opening day of Major League Baseball. I am a big Braves fan, and I believe this is the year we are going to win the World Series. We have the pitching, fielding, and the coaching. I have even bought a new television to help me cheer the Braves on to victory.Some people get excitement out of NASCAR. Racing is another sport that I have followed since I was a kid, and even though I am a Tony Stewart fan, I sure would like to see Dale Jr. win the Championship this year.Other people get excited about doing dangerous and risky things. These people like to jump out of air planes, climb mountains, wrestle alligators, catch snakes, eat glass and walk on fire. I guess these are called “Extreme Sports.” I have never jumped out of a plane, but I have ridden in a couple that I would have jumped out of if I had a parachute. I have never had a chance to wrestle an alligator, but I have caught my fair share of snakes. I have never walked on fire, but as a preacher, I have felt that I have been in the line of fire.Anyway, I invented a sport years ago that brought me lots of excitement. I would drive my car on empty to see how far I could go and not run out of gas. You may not believe this is a sport until you run out of fuel and have to push your car to a gas station. I don’t calculate miles so I make an educated guess on how much gas I have; I go by feeling, just like a sport. Let me tell you, this has brought me a lot of excitement over the years. My wife has never been a fan of my sport. She is always telling me to stop and get gas, and I always tell her the same thing, “Sweethang, I have gas to sell!”It has been years since I have run out of gas, until last weekend that is. I just knew I had enough gas to get home from a day of driving and enjoying the beauty of the day with my wife. My wife was telling me to stop and get gas, but I wouldn’t listen. The thrill of man and machine working together outweighed the slight possibility of pushing my Volkswagen Super Beatle to a distant gas pump.Well, it happened. I was within sight of a gas station when “Herbie” (my car) sputtered, shimmied, and shut down. He got within 20-30 feet of the gas pumps and stopped. I looked at my wife and told her to get out and push. Looking back on that situation, I did not choose the right words. I guess she figured since this was my sport, I should never have asked her to help me push. I’m not sure whether it was what she said to me, how she said it, or how she looked at me when she said what she said, but I knew right then and there that I was retiring from the sport of “Gas-Guessing!”I have come to this conclusion about life: there are certain chances a person should not take just for a thrill or excitement, especially if you know the end result could be harmful. When a person is a Christian, God promises His presence in all encounters. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” I am grateful for God’s unending comfort in my life. I realize that I must be willing to trust in Him and not rely on my own understanding when troubles come my way. How about you? Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!