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The Filling Station
2003
A church is like a gas station-or as some have called them-a filling station. A neighborhood filling station. A filling station has cars of all makes and models coming to be refueled. They come to have their windshields cleaned off and their tires filled with air. Then when each car leaves, it goes off on it’s own path to reach it’s own destination but eventually needing to return to the filling station.
Church is like that-or it should be. Each person that comes in is of a different make and model. Age, race, sex, occupation, financial status—it doesn’t matter—all need to be refueled. And like the windshield, all need to have the things clouding their vision-their dreams, hopes and plans- cleaned away. And like filling the tires, all need to be encouraged so the little bumps in the road don’t seem quite so bad.
Then each one of us goes on to carry out our own individual purpose-to follow our own unique God-ordained path. With our vision clear we can see that path clearly. With encouragement, we can go through the tough times and still reach our destination. Then we meet once again to be refueled, re-focused and re-filled.
At the filling station we will find a map –the Bible-that shows us how to reach our God-given destination. The map shows us the best way, the least troublesome way, to get to where we need to go. We will find mechanics to take care of the more serious problems that keep us from fulfilling our call in life.
Church is the place where all that should happen. Church is the place where we can draw from the strength, the gifts and the encouragement of the body of Christ so we are able to face the week ahead with faith and hope instead of discouragement and despair. Church is like a filling station.
"How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." 1 Corinthians 14:26
