Jeremy L. Berg

I was getting my oil changed at Valvoline this morning when a big truck pulled up next in line with the customized license plate that read: SATAN1. The employees started whispering nervously and trying to anticipate what kind of personality they would soon be serving. 

Trying to lighten the mood a bit I quipped, “If the oil is blood red when you drain it, you might want to call for back up.” Nervous chuckle. 

They shut my hood, I paid the fee, and drove away ponding what it means to go to work one day and end up changing the devil’s oil, or cleaning the devil’s teeth, or serving the devil coffee and a bagel, or bagging the devil’s groceries at the checkout. 

The body language and squirmy reactions of these oil change workers revealed they were not quite sure how to replace Satan’s engine oil or if they even want to. I wish I could have stuck around to see how it all went down. Would they treat this customer with the warmth they showed me, or give them a colder, a more detached interaction? Would they mention the $15 off coupon they offered me? Or would they try to snub them, neglect to top off Satan’s coolant, or deflate each tire a bit to slow down the devil in his errands.

When my car tech first read the license plate and alerted me to it, he said, “What an imbecile!” What’s your first thought when you encounter a person you find off-putting, abrasive, offensive? More importantly, how should followers of Jesus interact and treat such people? 

We’re getting plenty of practice in these days of “demonizing” those we differ with on political and cultural issues. People driving “red cars” tend to see a “SATAN” license plate on all “blue cars.” People driving “blue cars” see “SATAN” on the license plates of “red cars.” And we often don’t aim to give such people our highest quality care and attention. We avoid them. We are short with them. We give dirty looks and mutter things under our breath. “What an imbecile!” 

Engine oil is an apt metaphor for the Christian’s call to look out for the well-being of all people we come across—even those we deem ugly and mean and scary and different. Clean engine oil is the lifeblood of a healthy vehicle, just as “agape love” is what human beings and human relationships need to flourish. Jesus is very clear that we should be ready and willing to change the devil’s oil, to love and serve friends and enemies alike. 

Why?  So we can be just like our Heavenly Daddy who “causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong” (Matt 5:45-47). Our motivation as disciples of Jesus is not doing what’s most practical, reasonable, or personally advantageous; it’s simply doing what Jesus tells us to do in order to act toward others with the same undeserved kindness that God shows his enemies. And that includes you and me. “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Rom 5:10). While we were still driving on the Devil’s highway, Jesus lovingly offered us an exit ramp into a New Life.

The person we are tempted to call an “imbecile” today is still a beloved child of God made in the image of God. And if such a person is flirting with the Prince of Darkness and making their home in the devil’s backyard, how much more should we take pity on them and desire to give them a taste of the love of God! They’ve got the devil’s dirt in their oil, and we have an opportunity to help change it! Jesus says: 

“You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be Chilean of your Father in heaven… If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? …If you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?” (Matt 5:43-45)

Let all who have ears to hear, listen and obey.

But I fear many are deaf to this call and drifting away from this most central Christian teaching that commands us to change the devil’s oil with a smile. We’d rather ridicule their dirty engine and wish they would drive off a cliff in their big SATAN labeled truck. Jesus would change their oil as a small step toward hopefully changing their heart as well.

My kids and I have a little mantra we say together. After reciting the “Jesus Creed” together about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving our neighbor as our selves, I ask them, “And who is my neighbor?” They respond in unison, “Everyone!” I press them, “Even my enemy?” Again in unison, “Yes, dad, even our enemies.” Finally I ask, “Kids, what’s the most powerful force in the universe?” They answer, “Love.” When I ask, “Why?” They say, “Because only love turns enemies into friends.” 

So, I hope they gave Mr. Satan the full service today at Valvoline. I hope they gave him service with a smile and perhaps heaped burning coals on their head by giving them a free cabin filter. I hope they didn’t let the external label on the license plate skew their attitude and behavior toward the driver too much. 

Above all, I hope that cute little elderly lady behind the wheel of that big black truck gets home safely and gets at least 3,000 more healthy miles out of her truck. :)