Fuel fever

Well I believe all of you have heard about the news that our government has actually raised the national fuel price by 40% today (5/6) right? From a price of RM1.92 to RM2.70, the fuel price will also be adjusted monthly depending on the global market oil price, where the new oil prices are actually still at a 30sen per litre discount from the market price.

Well, the whole lot of us who are still staying back in UTP, got to experience the fever of people actually fighting for the very last drops of fuel with the original unraised price. Most of us here, Teck Kiong, Hun Pin, Gek Ling, Jenny and I joined the Working Adults care group in Ipoh (since there are only a few of us here). Care group went on alright, with a lot of fellowship, sharing and learning with the working adults. At around 11pm, which is right after the cg, the whole lot of the UTP students and some of the working adults, went for supper of sweet delicacies at a shop. Well of course we chatted and had a lot of fun until one point, around 11.30pm, somebody mentioned that ‘we should really get going now’-to fill up the Kancil (Maggie’s car) and the church van’s fuel tank, before the fuel price goes up. And the Maggie said, “I’ll bring you all to a petrol station which is more distant from Ipoh area, hopefully it won’t be too congested there compared to most of the petrol stations in central Ipoh (and i believe throughout the entire Malaysia). And so, we travelled. Remind you, time is ticking…

Both the Kancil and van sped through Ipoh and eventually reached a PETRONAS station near Pengkalan area. To our disappointment, it was also very congested with cars from all directions, swarming into the petrol station. And so, we wait. Waiting was gruelling, some more in the van- Can you imagine a still night in the van, no wind, with 5 people, without air conditioning (talking about CO2 emission from both people in the van and from the cars… [roll eyes]) and radio, waiting while staring at rows of cars ahead of you, with sleepy and heavy eyes some more? Gosh…

As we aproach the petrol station, Teck Kiong was like counting down and keep staring at his watch, saying 11.48pm now…then a short while later, 11.51pm now…11.53pm now… Then Teck Kiong said, “What if the fuel price is still the same after 12am, that would be a laugh then!” We were just guessing and talking about what would happen. Then as we approach the petrol station, the van and kancil actually has to squeeze into the line to avoid others overtaking us, thanks to Maggie and Hun Pin’s good driving skills, no accidents or anything awful happened.

When both the Kancil and van finally got into the line and just waiting for the car in front to finish pumping in, Teck Kiong, Hun Pin and Maggie actually jumped into action where Teck Kiong now switched placed to drive the Kancil while Maggie went to make the payment. Then both Teck Kiong and Hun Pin stand by the nozzle with the fuel tank opened and ready. I can see people running around, squeezing into the payment counter, and i even saw a lady just got down from her car, ran to the counter and start pumping in like what, 50 seconds? All the talking, shouting, asking whether the price has gone up- some said yes some said no…, drivers flaring… Gosh, total chaos~ Counting down…tick tock tick tock… it is 11.59pm already… Soon, the clock ticked and passed 12 in the morning. But don’t care d, start pumping… Gek Ling, Jenny and I was like staring at the display screen, RM1.92 still.. okay okay…relax…still the same price…As both the kancil and van finish pumping in, Maggie told us that the lady at the counter said we were the one of the last to pump in before the price goes up although it has already passed 12am. And we were like- ‘Praise God!!!’ As if we won some big battle, joy in the air, everyone was happy then…

On the way back, I can’t help but thinking…is this our future? People swarming in and actually fighting for petrol? Not to mention the oil price is no more stable but it will change from time to time.. Meaning more people fighting their way int o the petrol station every now and then? Shouting, fights, rude words exchanging…Even food prices are rising now- bread, flour, cooking oil… Would people fight for food in the future? Even electricity bills are raised! This is only the start!!! And it already caused so much chaos!!!

During the cg, Sis Ngeok Meng actually mentioned about her worries regarding the rising fuel prices, of how she suddenly was left with so much uncertainties and worries when she got the news regarding the rising oil price, thinking about her salary, her car’s high petrol comsumption, rising domestic household bills… However, she was consoled when God spoke to her that He will definitely provide and there is no need to worry at all. Indeed, He knows exactly what resources we need to stay in His will, and He always makes them available. A great example is when God planned for Abraham to be the “father of many nations,” He miraculously provided a son, Isaac. When God commanded Abraham to offer his only son as a sacrifice, He provided a substitute that He found acceptable in Isaac’s place. Abraham called the mountain “Jehovah Jireh,” that is, “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14). When Moses is not good in speech and does not know what to speak to the people of Israel, God provided him Aaron to be his spokesperson and eventually Moses even learned all the way and stood out as a great leader later.

And as wonderful as that was, He didn’t stop there. God continues to this very day providing each of us with the very best—Himself. His Spirit lives in us, strengthening and empowering us to obey His commands. In fact, God can absolutely be counted on to provide all the means necessary in order for us to obey His commands or carry out His plans. Let us not get too worried then! You know who you can count on to provide you with daily provision- no other but our one great God. Let us rely on His strength, being mindful and thankful that whatever God requires, He provides.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, i will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).