Several years ago, while serving in North Georgia, I made visits one hot spring afternoon. I drove to the home of a lady who visited the previous Sunday. She lived a mile or two off the main highway.
I located her house, knocked on her door, and no one answered. I left my card with a note, returned to my car and noticed a loud hissing sound. My tire was going flat.
It was so hot. I was wearing nice clothes, and I didn’t want to change that tire in those clothes, so I decided to make a run for it. I drove for several minutes and got back to the main highway.
I was halfway between my house and a service station. Turning right would take me to my house. I could change my clothes and then change my tire.
If I turned left, about five minutes away was the service station and I could have them change the tire. I turned left and drove slowly towards the service station, but not for long.
My tire was too flat, and I pulled off the road. Suddenly, this little sports car zipped around me, and parked in front of my car. Out jumped this attractive brunette in her workout clothes and she came bouncing back to my car saying, “Can I help you?”
“I have a flat tire and I was trying to make it to the service station. Can you give me a ride? I’ll get them to help me change my tire.”
She said, “I know how to change a tire.”
I said, “I know how to change a tire, too, but it’s hot and I’m in good clothes and I thought I’d let them change my tire.”
She said, “No, I’ll change your tire.”
Before I knew it, she appeared at my trunk, so we pulled out the tools and the spare and met at the flat. She got those lug nuts loosened in no time, jacked up that car, we pulled the flat tire off and put the spare tire on, placed the jack back in the trunk, and I thanked her.
Then she said, “I usually don’t stop for men, but I thought you were a woman.”
My mouth dropped open. “What about me made you think I was a woman?”
She said, “Any man knows not to drive on a flat tire.”
I said, “I know not to drive on a flat tire, but I thought I could make it.”
Then she continued, “Aren’t you the pastor of First Baptist Church?”
She did get the pastor part right, but since she mistook which church I served, I sheepishly said, “Yes, I am.”
Maybe when she told this story she’d get her pastors mixed up.
Then I corrected her, and she remembered visiting our church as a young girl. Either way, in her mind I was the pastor who didn’t know how to change a tire.
There are some basics we simply ought to know, like how to change a tire.
There are some things every believer ought to know.
Every believer ought to know the Bible. Let’s read the Bible every day and hear its message preached every Sunday.
Every believer ought to know the promises of God. Herbert Lockyer recorded 7,457 promises found in God’s Word. Each one is precious.
Every believer ought to know how to share his or her testimony of coming to Christ. You have a story to tell about your life before you met Christ, how you came to Christ, and your life now that you’ve met Christ.
Every believer ought to know the importance of supporting the local church with one’s faithful presence, prayer, participation and tithe.
Every believer ought to know basic biblical doctrine.
Every believer ought to know how to lead someone to Christ.
Every believer ought to know and use his or her spiritual gifts.
Ultimately, every believer ought to know Jesus better and better every day because he or she has a growing relationship with Him.
Paul said in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection . . .” Do you?
[David L. Chancey, “The Writing Pastor,” recently retired from McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, GA. He looks forward to continuing to preach and to expanding his writing ministry. View his other writings at www.davidchancey.com.]
