By John Warren

Several years ago I was on my way to a Miata Rally in La Bomba (Orange Miata).  I had not driven the car regularly for a while and I was marveling at how well she handled at 85 mph, which was the speed limit on that part of the highway in the middle of nowhere heading toward Alpine.  

Then I began thinking about the gas mileage my car was getting.  I had been driving for hours and the gas gage had not moved. 

Then, with a startle, I realized that the gas gauge on the car I normally drove was located in just the opposite position to the car I was driving.  

I was looking at the engine temperature when I looked at the real gas gauge, sure enough, it was past empty.  

It was a matter of minutes before I coast to a stop on the side of the road.  

So I started hitchhiking.  

After about a mile, an RV stopped and asked if I needed a ride. I reluctantly got in the RV because, instead of a happy family, a man and a huge pit bull dog occupied it. 

The dog was very friendly and I commented about that and the man replied, “No, not really you are sitting in his seat.”  

It was then I started thinking no one knows where I am, I peeked at my cell phone, “No Service.” 

I just knew they would find my body a big dog gnawing on my bones!  Soon we made it to a gas station.  

All this worry because I was using the wrong gauge.  

Many people in the world are using the wrong gauge to measure their lives. 

You see it everywhere.  

Ask anyone to describe someone who is successful, and nine times out of ten, they will name someone who is wealthy.  

It may even be someone who had done nothing to acquire their wealth but to be born into a certain family or it may be someone who garnered their wealth by illegal means, like a mafia kingpin.  Either way, they are given respect for their bank accounts.  

There is nothing wrong with being rich or having money.  

The problem comes when the love of money is stronger than the love of people and God.  It isn’t all there is to have a successful life. Greed or the love of money is not good.  

The great philosopher Thomas Carlyle wrote, “Let each became all that he was created capable of being.”  

Be the best you can be, do the best you can to the best of your abilities to God and everyone you meet.  

Successful people take life with all its difficulties and challenges and still find a way to be thankful to God. 

Saying yes to life and yes to the purpose God has given you. 

This Sunday eight of our youth will be saying yes to God, saying I want to be a follower, to bring the love of heaven down to earth through my life and witness.  I am excited to be a part of this important step in their lives.  

It gives me hope.  

Amen.   

 

John Warren is Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church, 502 North 6th Street in Orange.