Accidentally on Purpose

Phil 2:12 - Phil 2:13 (RSV)

¹²Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Once I was late for a meeting because I ran out of gas while on my way there. When I joined the meeting I apologized for being late and explained why I was delayed. One fellow there said, “I have read that no one runs out of gas on accident.” The comment confused me, so at the coffee break I asked him what he meant by it. I thought maybe he questioned by truthfulness. He assured me that he had no doubt that I ran out of gas and pointed out that I smelled of gasoline. What he meant was that running out of gas is most likely caused by neglect. At some point I chose to ignore the clear indication that I need to put more gasoline in the tank. My first response was mild irritation but as I mulled over his point I became painfully aware that he was right.

After this confrontation I almost never run out of gas. This morning I ran out of gas. I purchased my Explorer used, with nearly 50,000 miles on it and a bit over priced because I have always wanted to drive a vehicle that was loaded with gadgets. This one has an outdoor thermometer, a compass, fog lights, and a very sophisticated device to tell you, to the gal and to the mile, how much gasoline you have in your tank. Did I fail to look at the gauges? No. I watched my gas drain from my tank as I drove. I check it the first thing in the morining and it read “zero.” The closest gas station to my house is about a mile and half away. I made it about a half mile when the engine died.

I am of the belief that there are no such things as accidents. It is wrong to suggest the cause of anything is "it was an accident."  Every effect has a cause. An accident is not a cause. Sometimes the cause is multiple and so complicated that it is unknown to us, but a cause does exists. There are events in our lives that are caused by things that are out of our control. For example: I have little to say about how gasoline in consumed by my engine. I can keep it well tuned and my tires properly inflated. (both of which I usually neglect). I can check my gas gauge regularly and be attentive to fill my tank.So what caused me to run out of gas – It was those darn Arabs. I was too cheap to pay over $5.00 times 20 for a tank of gas and hold on till the prices dropped. I just waited too long.

Running out of gas is easily remedied, today it is cold and rainy. Terri brought me some gas (she has to it in our marriage contract) and I stood in the rain to deposit it into my empty tank. Bingo, I was on the road again. Problem solved. Some happenings in my life were caused by me and were not so easy to remedy. I live with those mistakes and they have scared my soul permanently. This is why Paul tells us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”