In the far western part of the large state of Texas, the towns are very far apart. Those traveling in that area often have no other thought but to get through it as quickly as they can.
My friend, Mr. Roberts, and his family were traveling by car through western Texas. Not only Mr. Roberts, but his wife and each of their children are born-again Christians. They were visiting other Christians on this trip and so were doing a lot of driving.
It is 282 miles from Odessa to El Paso, and there are only three towns of any size between the two cities. Freeways bypass these small towns, which are the only places where you can buy gas. So there are no reminders along the way to fill your gas tank. People who are familiar with the area know that it is always wise to be sure to have plenty of gas when traveling these long, lonely distances.
Have you already guessed what happened to my friend?
As they drove mile after mile on one of those lonely stretches, Mr. Roberts did not notice that the needle on the gas gauge was moving closer and closer to “empty.” Suddenly the car slowed to a stop. They were stranded on the roadside - out of gas!
At first Mr. Roberts tried to flag down one of the passing cars to give him a ride to the next town where he could buy gas. But no one stopped to offer help. Car after car sped by without even slowing down.
Their car was a small one, so Mr. Roberts thought, Maybe I can just push it to the top of this little rise and coast down the other side. Of course, this would still leave the family pretty far from help, unless a gas station were over the hill. But poor Mr. Roberts could not push the car as far as the top of the little rise.
Still no one stopped to help. Mr. Roberts sat down wearily and heartsick in the driver’s seat. As he sat pondering what to do, from the back seat little Pauline said, “Daddy, I asked the Lord Jesus to help us.” Even though she was very young, Pauline not only had accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, but she knew she could ask Him for help in times of trouble. Psalm 50:15 instructs us to “call upon Me [the Lord Jesus] in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify [praise and thank] Me.”
How this simple statement from his daughter spoke to her father’s heart! Troubled by having run out of gas and tired from his efforts to do something, he had forgotten to pray. Only if you have received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and know to pray can you believe what happened.
As the family sat in the car, and before Mr. Roberts could do anything else, a car pulled up behind them and stopped. The driver of the car came up to the Roberts and said, “You folks having trouble?” Mr. Roberts said, “Yes, sir, we are out of gas. Could you give me a ride to the next town where I can buy some?”
“It won’t be necessary,” the man said. Then he opened the trunk of his car and brought out a 5-gallon can of gas. He poured it into the Roberts’ stranded car.
“How much do I owe you?” Mr. Roberts asked.
“Not a penny,” said the kind man. “I am glad to help.”
How thankful Mr. Roberts felt that his little daughter had called on the Lord Jesus for help when he had forgotten to do so. Boys and girls, if young Pauline had not already belonged to the Lord Jesus, she would not have had such a source of help in the time of need. The Bible says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. When you have called on the Lord Jesus to be saved, to have all your sins washed away, you may call on Him also when you and your loved ones have a need.
If you have not felt your need for a Saviour because you have not realized that you are a sinner, listen to what the Bible tells us: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Then if you will call to the Lord Jesus, He will forgive everything that you have ever done that is sin. The Bible also says that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. Call on Him today and He will forgive your sins and make you His very own child. He will come into your heart that He has washed clean with His precious blood. Then, like little Pauline, you will have a Saviour on whom you can call in a time of need.
ML-01/23/1994