MESSAGES
As I was driving the streets of Riverside the other day, I came across what we call "road kill" lying in the middle of the street. Some animal had attempted to cross the street, but was obviously unsuccessful. I thought to myself, "Hum, it must have forgotten to look both ways before it crossed the road." Or maybe it did, and for some reason it thought it could beat the odds. Or maybe it thought it would just put its faith in luck that it would make it across safely.
Whatever decision it might have made prior to its act of crossing, one thing is for certain. It was the wrong decision! It was the last time it would ever cross a road.
As I thought about it, the Lord reminded me that we often find ourselves in this very type of predicament at times. How often do we step out into the traffic of life hoping we can make it across without getting hit? By the time we get across the road, some of us show the treads of a 10-speed bike across our body; while many, if not most, show the tire marks of an 18-wheeler. We then ask ourselves, "Why did this happen? Why do I feel so beat up, and so run down?" Perhaps it's because we didn't look both ways.
As a Christian, we're to look down, and we're to look up. Here's what I mean. First, we are to look down into the Word of God. James tells us, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what He does" (James 1:25). The psalmist reminds us that God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).
Second, we are to look up to the God of the Word. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to, "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). When we become more familiar with the Word of God, and the God of the Word, then we'll know when to move across the traffic of life, and when to remain on the spiritual curb.
As a Christian we're to, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). Why not our own strength? Because we'll become spiritual road kill. The Bible says, "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).
As a Christian, we are not to depend on chance, or luck, or fortune. We are to rely upon the wisdom that comes from God only. The Bible says, "Whoever finds wisdom finds life and receives favor from the Lord, but whoever fails to find wisdom harms himself."
Let us always remember the words of Paul, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (emphasis added; 1 Corinthians 3:5). If you use any wisdom other than God's wisdom, then look out for the 18-wheeler! It's simply a matter of time before you experience its tire marks.
Don't get caught in the traffic. Don't become spiritual road kill! Lets never forget to look both ways.
God bless you,
Pastor Steve |
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