”... he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit ...” (Titus 3:5 RSV)

    Life is a journey isn’t it? The Bible uses the word to describe our trip from here to eternity. The twelve were sent on a journey. In Luke 15, the prodigal son went on a one-way journey that fortunately became a round trip. Jesus was weary from a long journey (John 4), and changed someone’s life, who in turn changed her whole village. Paul made journeys that took the gospel throughout the known world.

    The Greek root word translated “journey” literally means “the road” or “the way.” We understand this. We hit the road, go on the road, take to the road, we have a road trip. The journey never ends till heaven. Just thinking about that can make us road weary. So what’s the deal? Do we not get any breaks in our journey? Do we have no stops along the way? Ah, that’s the question! The answer is, “Yes, we do.”

    Rip Griffin’s truck stops are famous in Texas. If you travel much in Texas, you will probably see them on your journeys. I have only stopped at one, and many others who travel the Lone Star state have stopped at this same one as well.

    I want you to put yourself mentally “on the road.” Join me on a journey from Austin, Texas to Santa Fe, New Mexico. We pull out of Austin about 10:00 p.m. heading for Santa Fe. You are sitting there next to me on the passenger side of my old ‘77 Chevy pickup. It’s January, and an hour out of Austin, it gets really cold. We head through Brownwood and finally turn on the heater. The heater is old and raises the temperature in the truck cab maybe a degree or two.

    You doze fitfully at 2:00 a.m. as we cruise past Abilene. I was hoping you’d help me drive part of the way, but that’s not going to happen. Somewhere around 3:00 a.m., I am really feeling road weary. The truck is loud, cold, and uncomfortable. You’re snoring. My road dinner of Yahoo-cola, jalapeno cheese puffs, terijaki jerky, and a Ding-Dong isn’t settling well anywhere in my system. Worst of all, my hands and face feel unwashed, tired, and greasy. Must be from the cola, puffs, jerky, Ding Dong, and heater air.

    Somewhere in the wee small hours of the morning, all I see is darkness and road. Nothing else. I need a break. Finally, like a beacon of hope, there is a sign up ahead. A silvery rim of neon lighting seems to hold the cold at bay. It’s Rip Griffin’s Truck Stop just off the highway near Snyder.

    You and I stop at Rip’s. You know why? There’s no place else to stop, that’s why. I walk in and there are some friendly folks welcoming me in from the frozen wasteland. I stretch and yawn ... and here’s the good part: in the restroom at Rip’s are three ordinary bathroom sinks. Nothing fancy, different, or unusual. Each has a chrome faucet and a soap dispenser. Your hands finally thaw enough to allow you to turn on the water in the sink. And then, a miracle happens. Steam heat rises from the sink, as the world’s hottest water washes over your hands. In fact, you have to crank it down a little. You pump the soap dispenser and wash the road from your face and hands. Steam rises around you as you wash and rinse again. Weariness and grime evaporate, and you emerge from this experience renewed. On the way back to the truck, your fresh, new, clean hands are wrapped around a fresh hot mug of coffee. Lubbock? Albuquerque? BRING THEM ON!

You may need a break, a stop to refresh and renew, before you hit the road again.

    This may seem ridiculous to you. Who gets excited about hot water in a sink in a truck stop? A road dog, that’s who. And that’s what I am. And so are you. Your road may be the road to recovery. Your road may be a dark journey out of sin. Your road may be mending a broken relationship. My friend, if you are a Christian, you are on a journey. You may need hot cleansing soap and water of the Spirit of God. You may need the cup of hot coffee, or that cup of cold water Jesus describes. You may need a break, a stop to refresh and renew, before you hit the road again.

    But before you do, here’s two quick points for the road.

    First, you need to HAVE a “Rip’s” along life’s journey. It may be your church. It may be that special worship time each week. It may be that small group with whom you share fellowship. It may be a corner of your bedroom where you rest in the Word of God each morning. It may be that place of prayer. It may be the special person God put in your life today.

    Second, you need to BE a “Rip’s” for someone else’s journey. Lots of folks are road weary. You can provide a listening ear, a verse of scripture, an encouraging word, a genuine prayer of intercession. Start with those closest to you right now, but try to be their “Rip’s” along the way. We’re on a journey to eternity, with some neat stops along the way. Hope to see you on the road somewhere ... if not, see you at “Rip’s.”

”... for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.” (1 Corinthians 16:18 RSV)

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains ... (2 Timothy 1:16 RSV)