"Would you like to get something to eat?" our friends called as we started to the car after prayer meeting last night." Well, sure, we hadn't had supper so it sounded good. Saying we would meet the two other couples at the ice cream store, we followed them out the long church driveway. We had hardly got started, though, when flashing red-and blue-lights pulled us over!
What could be wrong? Howard got out his ID and had it ready as the officer approached. "Nothing major," the genial cop assured us, "but you've got a headlight out." What? We hadn't known that, as it seemed to be giving light. He checked the driver's license and asked for proof of insurance. Ah, that, I knew we had, because my dutiful husband always stressed to me to keep it handy in the car. But he was fumbling with his wallets (he has two), and rifling through the glove compartment, finally pulling out papers from the visor. That was an expired copy, though.
"I'll just run it on the computer," the policeman said, but Howard assured him he could find it. Finally, the man checked the computer and came back with the news that all was in order. (Howard had found it by that time.) A warning ticket and no fine sent us on our way. We were met with quizzical looks and laughter on our explanation of the delay, with stories swapped with the others about like experiences.
Earlier that afternoon, when the temperature was near 80, my husband switched on the car AC and got nothing! What next? Why did it choose today to go out? He pulled out some kind of schematic of fuse locations and said he would work on it tomorrow. Help us, Lord! Well, He did, because cool air blasted us after church!
I got to thinking about the striking parallels of these events with spiritual scenarios. Suppose we were trying to get into heaven, and the angel could not find our names written in the Book of Life? No proof of insurance with Jesus as the underwriter? Thank God, our names our recorded there. And any record of wrongs has been cleared by a divine "delete" button on God's computer.
Jesus told a story of the ten virgins on the way to a wedding feast, when the lights of five had gone out. They were not admitted to the wedding supper. Their oil had "expired." We must keep our light burning bright, with an up-to-date testimony. Such things may not be possible, but will our friends and loved ones be looking for us and wondering what happened, as our friends did who waited at the ice cream shop?
The Bible teaches that we are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, James 1:27. A difficult thing to do with all the contaminants and pollution of today's society. A few days ago, Howard was spray-painting some of our porch furniture, and I guess I got a little too close, for soon I had an irritated throat, which seems to have evolved into a bronchitis. We were outside, but the breeze was blowing, and I remember getting a whiff of the paint fumes and hoping I wouldn't be affected. I was.
Like our working AC in the car, the pure, cooling breezes of the Holy Spirit can only refresh, renewing us from the heat of the day and strengthening us against the enemy, whose destination plans for us are anything but cool!
Revelation 19:7-9 tells of the marriage supper of the lamb, and the saints' white robes of righteousness, the wedding garment. Fellowship and food among friends here is good, but that is a feast I do not want to miss!
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