My consumption of coffee is legendary. While I’ve never really liked the taste of coffee, I’ve become reliant on the energy it’s high caffeine levels give me. I rely on coffee because I’ve never been a morning person, behaving, speaking, and looking rather like Chewbacca until around noon most days (especially if I’ve not been properly caffeinated). It’s fairly typical for me to breeze through 3 to 4 mugs of coffee before 10 am, which I know firmly qualifies me as an addict. I always know when I’m being particularly difficult when my wife, who disdains everything about coffee, takes the time to either make or purchase coffee for me. For better or for worse, I’ve become rather fueled and dependent on this “liquid gold.”
Many of us seek to “fuel” our lives in a fashion similar to how I use coffee to fuel my mornings. The list of the things that energize us, excite us, and give us purpose could go on for pages. It would include sports, vacations, working out, spending time with friends, hunting, motorsports, etc. But all of those things pale in comparison to the thing that we really need to fuel us, and that is Christ Jesus. Check out these verses in Jeremiah 17:
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
Far too often we try to fuel our lives with basically everything but Christ. We think other people, fun activities, possessions, and even foods and drinks can fuel our lives. I often hear men talk about how they need time to themselves, need time to hunt, need to get a drink once in a while, need to unwind, etc. But, what we all REALLY need is a strong connection with God. God is like that stream of water mentioned in Jeremiah. He is always present in our lives, always ready to strengthen us, to love us, and to fuel us. Yet, all too often, we’re unwilling to spread our roots out even the tiniest bit to connect with Him. We’ll go on a week-long motorcycle trip, spend three days in a tree stand, binge-watch an entire TV series in a weekend, or memorize the whole 53-man roster of our favorite football team, but we’re unwilling to spend five minutes with our creator, savior, and sustainer. Why is that? I can’t answer that for you, but I can tell you this. All of those other things in life will only fuel and satisfy you for a moment. God, however, will fuel and satisfy you for all eternity. Spread your roots and connect with Him each and every day. Let God’s love, mercy, and presence provide your fuel and purpose every day of your life.
