Exits and Emergencies
Gtcotr/ws052505
Every road leads somewhere. Where is the road you are currently on leading?
Two Key Scriptures: NKJV
Proverbs 22:3 ¶ A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.
Proverbs 27:12 ¶ A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.
Every road leads to it’s destination and there are signs along the way telling us where we are headed.
While I was serving in the military during the 70’s, I was trained, I passed the tests and took a job for about a year as a US Customs Agent, assigned to Ramstein Air Base in the Federal Republic of Germany or West Germany as it was known then. Many of the US and foreign military and civilians being transferred to that region of the world for either short or long term assignments, as well as shipments of all types of supplies, materials and goods came through this hub.
Seeing that I had some latent public speaking skills I was asked to take on an added responsibility of teaching an orientation class which was mandatory for all incoming personnel. It was my duty to put together and present a two day briefing which would help acclimate people to the specific laws, customs and culture of this theater of operation.
Since we were located in Germany and only a two or three hour autobahn drive from France, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Eastern Block countries, much of my briefing was aimed at helping people become familiar with traffic laws and able to identify road signs. This was before most of these countries or the US had fully adopted international signs.
It was also my responsibility to teach those who would be driving how to avoid disaster on the autobahn, especially in dense fog, black ice or ‘white outs’ and how to make a proper exit or best respond to an emergency while traveling the road at high speeds.
It was during this time in my life that Brenda and I were serving in a local European Baptist church as Sunday School teachers for the 5 year old class and I also taught the youth group on Wednesday nights. It was about then that I first realized the application of the scripture that:
“Signs are for unbelievers.”
1 Corinthians 14:22 (Pastor’s Paraphrase)
Since every road leads somewhere predictable and since each road is periodically dressed with signs telling where the road is leading, allow me to take this moment and give a briefing to those of us who will be driving along life’s high-speed highways, as to how we can recognize some signs and deal with upcoming exits and emergencies.
So without further ado I give you:
Four Signposts On The Road To Defeat
When I use the term defeat I am basically talking to the Christian about backsliding … this means getting farther away from God.
One gets farther from God when either God moves and we don’t … or when we move in a direction that God won’t.
1. No Personal Prayer or Bible Reading
* This will leave us to adopt the Gospel of self
* We will grow farther from God
> Physically:
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
> Mentally:
2 Corinthians 10
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
> Spiritually:
Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
> Emotionally:
Galatians5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Developing and maintaining an intimate relationship with God is mandatory if we are going to drive the road to success.
2. No Spiritual Covering
* We should not underestimate the safety and security of accountable relationships
* There is safety in the multitude of counselors
* Two are better than one … Ecclesiastes 4:9
> we should heed the kind correction of a friend
> faithful are the wounds of a friend … Proverbs 27:6
* Hebrews 13:7 & 17 tell us to
> Remember those who lead us in God’s ways
> Follow them
> Obey their leadership decisions
> Submit to their counsel and Godly wisdom
* This describes a pattern or accountability - spiritual covering
Proverbs 18:1 ¶ A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.
3. Becoming so close/familiar with another person that their sin no longer provokes us and our sin no longer provokes them to speak up with a kind correction.
* Especially those of the opposite sex
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good character."
> NIV says evil company corrupts good habits
> RSV says that bad company ruins good morals
> NEB says that bad company is the ruin of a good character
* Like iron sharpening iron Proverbs 27:17 (it can also dull)
* Even Righteous Lot was vexed by conversation 2 Peter 2:7
It is necessary that we not peacefully or passively co-exist with sin …
4. Believing That You Are Invincible
* The, “It can’t happen to me” syndrome
* Peter said “Be sober …” 1 Peter 5:8
* Paul said don’t let “satan get an advantage …” 2 Cor 2:11
Mark 14:29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."
* it can’t happen to me --- not me --- never me!
Mark 14:71 Then he (Peter) began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man (Jesus) of whom you speak!"
Don’t be so foolish to think it can’t happen to you … we need to stay close to Jesus instead of following Him at a distance.
What is the remedy?
* Admit you are on the wrong road going the wrong way
> This is a real emergency - disaster is on it’s way
> Once you admit this … number two:
* You are at an exit right now - Exit right now!
* Commit to developing and maintaining:
> Intimacy with God through His word and prayer
> Accountability
> No peaceful co-existing with sinful patterns of life
> A humble dependence on God’s daily protection
