Since being in Cordova, Alaska for the past few weeks, I’ve had numerous opportunities to walk around, and even take a drive “out the road.” In doing so, I came across this one road sign (more than once) that totally impressed upon my heart this Weekend Greeting.
FRESH OIL ⎯ As you know, one of the results of the long and cold winters of Alaska is that all the roads become packed with ice and snow for several months. Then in spring the roads thaw, leaving big potholes, cracks and broken road seams. You can see here a freshly oiled segment of one of Cordova’s port roads and how its left edges have been oiled all the way down to the end of the road.
The old, pot-holed, seam-cracked and bumpy life we have lived has been made new!
“Therefore if any man be in Christ (the krisma, kristos, karisma, or the anointing), he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold all things become new.” Or, as the Amplified states: ” . . . behold, the fresh and new has come.” 2 Cointhians 5:17
That’s right, our past life is over and gone; we are made new by the work of Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Ghost who raised Him from the dead.
When we get filled with the Holy Ghost, He flows over us like a steam roller, packing our potholes of the road we have traveled in our past with His love, joy, and peace — and a whole bunch of other wonderful things called the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. We have to walk out there in this ol’ world every day. When we do, the snow and ice of adversity can easily pile up on us, the pressures of everyday living can run over us like a truck and we may get pot-holed, cracked, and even bumpy as a result. It is then that we have to thaw out in the warm presence of God and allow the Holy Ghost to roll over us with fresh oil.
There’s no shortage of fresh oil with God. There is a great supply. All we have to do is make a RUN FOR IT, like this guy. Nor is the steamroller of the Holy Ghost broken down. His rolling power will iron out and fill up all the pot holes, cracks . . . and, seal the broken seams in our lives. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us is God, who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 1 Corinthians 1:21-22
Why not run to church this weekend and get some FRESH OIL from the Holy Ghost!