Like my 18-year-old car, the oil of life is old and comfortable; it does the job, but if we don't remove the worn and replace it with uncontaminated 5W-30, the damage can become permanent.
Driving down the highway at 55 m.p.h, I was aware that my 2003 Chevy Malibu was long overdue for an oil change. At 93,801 miles, my grandparents, who had given me the car, were only mildly concerned.
"Your car needs new, fresh oil," their desperate pleas inclined me to take action urgently.
"I know," my small utter hinted at exhaustion.
"If you don't do it soon, you could cause permanent damage to the car!" my grandpa's eyes spoke for him.
"I'm very sorry, grandpa. I've been so busy at work teaching that I haven't made the time, but I'm going to have my boyfriend do it this weekend." my answer seemed to satisfy his concerns.
"And every 3000 to 5000 miles from here on out," he added with a wink and a smile.
Fresh oil, I pondered to myself. Maybe my car isn't the only powerhouse needing something new in its life?
Don't Let Old Oil Cause Permanent Damage
As my second year of teaching comes to a close, this idea of a fresh, new oil wraps itself around my mind. While I am ecstatic to get a break from school, I am anxious about what the future may hold. There are things in my life that I want to work on, habits I want to improve, and skills I want to learn. Of course, there are also patterns I want to implement, joys I want to seek, and adventures I want to explore.
While I doubt that I am the only one to struggle with this, I believe that we as individuals can get into the state of living for productivity and going through the motions. Multi-tasking is my best friend, and my inability to rest mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally can be exhausting.
Like my 18-year-old car, the oil of life is old and comfortable; it does the job, but if we don't remove the worn and replace it with uncontaminated 5W-30, the damage can become permanent.
Watching and helping my boyfriend change the oil, I saw the labor of love for a typical task. However, because the oil was long overdue, we needed a cheater bar to break the old oil cap off before replacing it with the new one. Hands tight and muscles gripping, we twisted and turned the cap until a steady stream of black fluid flowed from within the machine.
With old grease on our hands, my boyfriend scavenged to find the oil filter and replace it. Two and a half hours later, we completed the 45-minute job that took more work simply because I'd avoided making it a priority for so long.
How to Fill Your Life with Newness
In Psalm 92, the KJV describes giving thanks to God for His influence in our lives. Shouting for joy at who He is and what He's done for us, verse 10b highlights this Holy Spirit's indwelling within us as fresh oil.
"But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil" (Psalm 92:10, KJV).
In the TPT version, the Scriptures say this: "Our anointing has made me strong and mighty. You've empowered my life for triumph by pouring fresh oil over me" (Psalm 92:10, TPT). More traditional translations like the NIV write, "You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me" (Psalm 92:10, NIV).
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/dulezidar
Through original interpretation and context, this Psalm is a song for the Sabbath day. Declaring freedom over his enemies (vs.9), David declares in verse 10 with confidence because he knows that His soul has been freshly anointed with the oil of the Lord. Essentially, he remarks that the Lord has exalted the strength of a steer within him by pouring out His Spirit upon him. The TPT here notes, "I will raise my horn high like a rhinoceros [Hb. translated as "wild ox"], and in my old age I will still have plenty of oil [anointing].”
New oil comes from the transliteration raʿănān, meaning to be or grow luxuriant or fresh or green (verb) or luxuriant, fresh (adjective). Oil, derived from šemen, is a fat, or oil as a staple for anointing and creating fruitful lands. Literally, it is a liquid component, but figuratively, it is symbolic of richness to come.
This new and fresh oil is from an unused root meaning to be green; verdant; by analogy, new; figuratively, prosperous:—green, flourishing. When Pastors and Priests anoint with oil, they display a supernatural reminder of the Holy Spirit's fuel that already resides inside of us.
Today, I want to declare with you that it doesn't matter how long it's been since you've had an oil change or how long it's been since new and fresh oil has been poured into your life. If you ask the Spirit for help, He will light up a fire within you from the oil you have and replace it with brand new, fresh, and heated oil, ready for action.
In Exodus 24, the Scripture highlight Sons of Fresh Oil or servants who produce light.
INDENT: ”Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction." Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.” (Exodus 24:9-13, TPT)
Moses, one of these Sons of Fresh Oil, responded to the Lord's call, and what a challenging word that presents to us. As the NIV writes in verse 12, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction" (Exodus 24:12, NIV).
God wanted to give Moses these commandments to represent Christ to the world because Christ had not yet come to dwell within us. Praise God that the Lord has not only come in this day and age but also given us an overflowing oil pouring into our very souls.
Jesus Christ, who was and is and is to come, is the Holy Oil of Anointing in each of our lives (Revelation 4). It's time for fresh and new oil, my friends. Don't wait until you're low and the car's about to break down. Change it and appreciate God in a new light every 3000 to 5000 miles.
Photo Credit: © Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio
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