Check Your Fuel Tank

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” —Matthew 25:1–4, NKJV

Some thirty years ago, my husband and I were navigating the beautiful scenic route between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, United States, when our conversation was halted by a highway sign that read, “Next gas station, 15 miles.” What a predicament! We had just relocated from the urban center of Southern California, where gas stations can be found at each exit, conveniently one mile apart.

And that practice was reinforced in our journey from Chattanooga, where we saw closely placed exits with signs indicating gas stations.

We had less than one gallon of gas, as we thought we would exit in less than one mile and fill up. But there was no way we could travel fifteen miles.

The most recent exit was in our rearview mirror, but the turnaround was also fifteen miles ahead. And we were at a sharp bend in the road and could not see beyond it.

Habit had formed our expectations, which lowered our sense of responsibility for knowing what might lay ahead. The story of the virgins and their lamps started in today’s verse continues: “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:10–13, NKJV).

Unable to turn back, we proceeded around the bend on the highway.

To our surprise, there was an exit, albeit no sign signaling a gas station.

We exited the highway. We looked left and then right and saw a small gas station. With gratitude, we filled the tank and reentered the highway, lesson learned.

Although we knew the value of preparation and had practiced it many times before, habits can undo even the best-learned lesson.

Regardless of your situation, fill your tank regularly so you will have a full tank as you travel the highways of life.

Prudence Pollard