Running On Empty!

So shall my word be that goes out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

One of the most helpless feelings in the world is to be driving in a sparsely populated area and notice that the gas gauge is almost on empty! No gas stations in sight! You wonder how in the world you ignored the gauge when there were plenty of gas stations around? Nobody likes to be running on empty in that situation.

Just before World War II at the Tournament of Roses parade, the Standard Oil Company had a beautiful float entered in the parade. It was covered in red roses. The theme that year was, “Be Prepared.” In the middle of the parade, the oil company’s float came to a screeching halt and the rest of the parade stopped with it!

What happened? The float committee which had, spent countless hours making sure every flower was in place, which had spent literally days making sure that the music was just right, that the sound system was adequate for the task, had simply forgotten to fill the float engine with enough gas. That’s right, the Chevron oil and gas company float had run out of gas! It was running on empty!

The directors of the Chevron float had done everything well, but they had neglected to use their company’s vast resources of oil. They had neglected to do the one thing needed to finish the work of that day. The parade waited while somebody ran to get a gallon of gas.

There are times in this life when we might feel that we are running on empty. There are times when the unexpected circumstances of life take all our energy and leave us feeling empty. It can be spiritual, emotional, or physical depletion that can leave us feeling exhausted, confused, and just basically wiped out.

Forrest Gump ran, just because he liked running, for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours across America. Maybe for sometime now, we are like Forrest Gump, just going through the motions, with no meaning or purpose. We do it just because we think it’s what we are supposed to do. We are running on empty.

The late Adrian Rogers once shared how we live our lives like a car. We fill up the tank and take off never thinking of our need for fuel/power again until we are running on fumes and the tank is empty.

This life is not easy, there is so much pain, suffering, heart break, and sickness that we forget to remind ourselves that every day is a gift from God that we will never have again. I think God would have us fill up our tank every day by remembering the value of this day. Don’t run on empty.

First, resolve to experience and enjoy each day and try not to tackle our whole life’s problems in one day. Next, be agreeable. Try to be courteous and considerate of everyone in your path. Don’t run over those who might be running on empty.

Then, try to have a plan and a goal for the day. We might not follow it exactly, but have one anyway. Having a plan and a goal will save us from two of the most bothersome enemies – hurry and indecision.

Finally, don’t be afraid to love or risk. Endeavor to enjoy all of God’s blessings and believe that every seed we sow in God’s kingdom will be multiplied back to us many times over.

When we let ourselves run on empty, it’s like working outside God’s will for us. We wear ourselves out and end up having nothing to show for all our efforts.

We get out tank filled when we allow ourselves to stop, renew our fellowship with God, and allow Him to direct us.

God knows how draining life can be, so don’t run on empty -remember to fill up!