Diesel or Gasoline?

Recently, I was on a trip to central Alabama to spend a little time in a tree... with God.... and my bow...  ( I digress and I am only on the first sentence of my first blog) While there, I had to fill up my Jeep.  The different fuel octane ratings were hand written on little pieces of paper as were the prices per gallon.  There were two pumps, one for diesel and the other for gasoline.   Normally, the diesel pump handles are bright green or even located on different pump stations completely.  Here, they looked just alike;  only the little pieces of paper told the difference.  I almost fell victim, but caught myself at the last second.   Phew...that was close.

I paid my bill and walked back to the Jeep.  That's when the old African American man with no voicebox covered the hole with his hand and asked me, "Do you know what I should do?  I accidentally put diesel into my car."  (His car was a really nice late model Yukon that looked like it could hold abotu 100 gallons!)

I asked if he was from Fort Deposit.  He said no.  He was just passing through. 

I explained that there was an auto parts store just past the next gas station and that I knew the owner and would see what we could do.

I walked into Ryal's Auto Parts and said, "Donnie, there's a guy fixing to come in here who accidentally filled up his SUV with Diesel instead of gas.  Can we help him?"  "Yea...it happens about 3 or 4 times a week" he said. 

I don't know how Donnie fixed his car, but I do know that often times, we try to put the wrong fuel in our tanks. 

I am not writing about your automobile;  I am writing about our souls. 

Have you ever tried to "fill up" on the pleasures of extravagent living?  Have you ever sought to scratch your soul's itch with alcohol or something else that took the edge of your awareness away?  Have you ever tried to distract yourself with sports instead of looking into the deep dark places that need a glimpse of Christ?  Have you ever buried your head in a book instead of meeting your new neighbors?  Have you spent so much time on the computer that you forgot to pray with a friend?  Have you listened to your favorite iTunes, but forgotten to listen to God?  Do you find yourself laughing at dirty jokes instead of pushing a child on a swing?  Have you sought the approval of your boss more than the approval of God?  Have you ever....

Have you ever filled up with the wrong fuel?  The results could be disastrous.  Your spiritual engine will break down and have to be rebuilt if you try to run it on the wrong fuel. 

The answer of course is to pump or siphon the  bad fuel out of the tank. 

We have to find a professional who deals with this 3 or 4 times a week.  We have to find a friend who can help. 

This week I invite you to find a friend who will help keep you honest in the fuel of your faith.  Let them look under the hood.  Let them siphon a little off the top to make sure you didn't read the wrong little piece of paper.  Let them into your heart and your life. Let them help you before you mess up your life.