History has a funny way of repeating itself—usually right at the pump.
As of this morning, March 9, 2026, the news is dominated by the conflict in Iran and the “Strait of Hormuz crunch.” We’ve watched the national average jump toward $3.50 while crude oil pushes $120 a barrel. One day you’re paying $2.40. The next, you’re staring at the pump wondering if you need a HELOC to fill the tank.
But here’s the thing: we’ve been here before. And we made it through just fine.
The 19-Cent Dream
I remember a time when “gas wars” didn’t involve missiles; they involved two guys on opposite corners in small-town America trying to undercut each other’s prices.
In the 1960s, gas was a service. For 19 cents a gallon, a uniformed attendant would fill your tank, scrub your windshield, and check your oil before you could even ask.
The Golden Ticket of ’79
By the spring of 1979, the dream was over. I was moving from Florida to California, and the trip across I-10 became a five-day dystopian movie.
In Florida, gas was about 65 cents. By the time I hit West Texas, the numbers were spinning. When I finally arrived in Los Angeles, it hit 90 cents—a price we thought might break the country.
California had odd-even rationing. If your license plate ended in an odd number, you couldn’t buy gas on even days. But I had Florida plates. That made me the most popular guy in the office. People were literally asking to rent my license plate so they could stand in line and fill their tanks. Funny how quickly desperation changes the rules.
Market Price vs. Eternal Value
Today the world is once again obsessed with the price of a barrel. But while the price of crude oil is dictated by war and logistics, there is another kind of oil that is far more valuable—the spiritual oil in our hearts.
In ’79, people were desperate for extra oil—or at least a Florida plate that could get it. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, the story is similar. When the darkness comes, there is no borrowing someone else’s supply. No renting a license plate. You either have oil in your lamp, or you don’t.
Here’s the difference:
The world’s oil
- Spikes with every headline
- Moves a machine
- Eventually runs out
The Spirit’s oil
- Bought without money
- Moves a soul
- Never runs dry
The Road Ahead
I don’t have a crystal ball for commodity prices. But I do have a Book that tells me something about the road ahead. It’s called the Bible. And it reminds us that “wars and rumors of wars” are part of a larger story.
If you’re interested in how current world events may be aligning with biblical prophecy, I’ve put together something called the Global Convergence Index. It’s a simple way to track the geopolitical, economic, and cultural signals many students of prophecy are watching today.
You can explore it here: https://waynesworldview.ddns.net
The journey might get rough. We may find ourselves forced off-road by high prices or global tension. But don’t let the price of a barrel steal the peace in your heart.
The price per gallon changes. The Provider doesn’t.
So keep your lamp full. We’re going to reach the destination.
I’m Wayne — and that’s my world view. What’s yours?
