It was during a holiday visit to my parents who live in the countryside. The roads were more congested than I had anticipated, and we spent long stretches at a standstill. Our estimated arrival time kept getting pushed back. Hoping to save time, I decided to delay refueling until the tank was nearly empty, passing by several rest stops along the way. Even when the GPS announced that the next stop would be the last service area on that highway, I drove past it, thinking that once I entered a different expressway, another rest area would soon appear.
But then the unexpected happened. With only one bar of fuel left, I searched for the nearest gas station only to find that the next one was over 100 kilometers away. My heart began to race. I tried to exit the highway to find a gas station on a local road, but traffic was so jammed I couldn’t move at all. I grew anxious, wondering if the car would stop right then and there. Thankfully, the congestion eventually cleared. I managed to refuel at a nearby station and reached my destination safely.
Looking back, there had been plenty of opportunities to refuel. But after putting it off again and again, I found myself in real need with no fuel in sight and only worry in its place.
What about us, as we journey through the wilderness of faith? In this age, we are surrounded by more opportunities than ever to fill our lamps with the oil of faith. Through smartphones and apps, we can access the Bible and the truth anytime, anywhere. There are no closing hours, no cost, and for that, how deeply grateful we should be. So today, once again, I stop by a spiritual filling station. I fill my lamp with the oil of faith and take firm, hopeful steps toward the kingdom of heaven.