IS YOUR OIL LIGHT ON?
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
In 1986, I worked as an outside salesman for Waste Management, Inc. It was not a glamorous job. I sold trash dumpster service. I figured nothing could get any more unglamorous than that? But I was wrong. because then we added a product line - portable toilets. The company's sales pitch was, "We're number one in the number two business."
Well, as unglamorous as it may have been, the job did provide me with a company car. It was my first one (I love company cars). As a rookie salesman, I was given the hand-me-down car of the fleet. It had some problems. One of them had to do with the oil light. It started to flicker one day. I figured if I was truly low on oil, the light would come on and stay on, right? WRONG. I continue to drive with the oil light flickering at me and within a few miles. BOOM!!! The engine block cracked, black smoke billowed out of the exhaust pipe, and the car was down for the count. AND, I came within an eyelash of losing my job after only being employed for a few months. It was not a happy time.
THE OIL LIGHT FOR A CHRISTIAN
Is there an oil light in the Christian life? Is there something we are to watch for that indicates a serious problem that needs immediate attention? YES! In 1 John 2:15, God warns us about loving the world. loving the world system that is controlled by Satan and opposed to the Lord and His Christ. John goes on to say that the world system is filled with 3 basic things:
1. The lust of the flesh (our appetite for immoral sex, for gluttony, for laziness)
2. The lust of the eyes (our desire for more "stuff". basically greed)
3. The boastful pride of life (our desire to have others notice "our glory")
When we start loving the ways of the world, we lose two critical things:
1. Our love for God.
2. Our desire to do His will.
IS YOUR OIL LIGHT ON?
Check your heart. Is it still on fire for the One who died for you? Is it still overwhelmed by His great love for you? Or have you started to love the world and the things in the world?
Check your feet. Are you still going in the direction of God's will. or have you veered from the path? Has God's will taken a backseat to your will? Going the way of the world is a passing pleasure. Only those who do the will of God abide forever (1 John 2:17).
My friend, you cannot love God and love this world. If you love what is anti-God and anti-Christ, you will find yourself at odds with God ("Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?" James 4:4). If that is where you find yourself today, you need to pull over and get things right before your engine block cracks.
THE OIL LIGHT PRAYER
Lord, as I honestly look at my heart, I see that I have slowly drifted away from You. I have let myself get enamored with the things of this world. My oil light is on. And God, right now I stop and ask You to forgive me and fill me once again with Your love. Fill my mind with the wonderful cross. Fill my heart with a desire to do Your will above all. I choose You, Lord. For You alone are worthy.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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