Prelude:
Everyday, all around us, there are practical, Biblical, lessons to be learned from even the most routine and mundane round of the daily grind of normal life and circumstance.
For instance, most of us drive a vehicle of one kind or another with very little thought. It is just part of functioning in society and the hectic pace and lifestyle of the twenty-first century. Many of us may have been involved in an accident of one sort or another during our driving career, and from these daily, and all to common occurrences, there is perhaps something to be learned and heeded, regarding our journey on the highway of It is the prayer of the author, that the simple analogies made in this booklet, along with the Scriptures quoted, will be a warning, and an encouragement to Christian, fellow-travelers, and especially those who term themselves, young people.
Just as there are many vehicle wrecks on the highways and roads we drive every day, so there are many spiritual, moral, and even physical, wrecks on the road of life. A vehicle wreck is often the result of distraction or taking our eyes off the road, even or just a brief moment. The same is true in our life too. As Christians we become distracted by the things of this world. We focus on them, and not on the Lord Jesus who said, "I am the way." John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Sometimes a vehicle wreck is caused by someone hindering our progress, by pulling out in front of us, or stopping in our path. In the same way, our enemy Satan, tries to hinder our spiritual progress by road blocks of one kind or another. It may be any number of things...family, education, money, sports, or even just the daily grind and routine of life and society in general.
Often there are accidents because of sleepiness. This is also true in our spiritual life. We become careless, overwhelmed by the circumstances and trials, or simply indifferent to the ditches, potholes, and pitfalls all around us. The Bible warns us, "it is high time to awake out of sleep" Romans 13:1111And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11)
The pathway of faith takes watchfulness and concentration, otherwise we will swerve into sin, and find ourselves spiritual wrecks. Let's be careful that we do not become spiritually drowsy.
A wreck may be caused by not paying attention. Not paying attention to the road signs, weather conditions, the map, or other directions. Not paying attention to those around us can be a hazard as well. We are not always as alert as we should be, and it leads to getting lost, confused, into places we should not be, and perhaps, ultimately, wrecked. Just so, in our path of faith! We need to be alert at all times! We need to be awake! We are told in Scripture to,
Often when driving, we think we know best, and don't even bother to consult the map or directions, perhaps drawn or written out by someone who traveled the route or knew the way before us. Are we reading God's directions for our lives, everyday? Or are we trying to find our own way and make our own decisions?
Wrecks on the road can happen because we are traveling with someone who is distracting us, giving us bad advice, or even wrong directions. How true this is in spiritual things as well. Let's make sure that we are traveling in the company of those who are a help and encouragement to us, and who give us good counsel and advice from the Word of God.
Another cause of accidents is blatantly disobeying or ignoring the road signs. So, in our life for Christ, disobeying or neglecting the instructions and guidelines of the Word of God can be disastrous.
Speeding is not good either. How many wrecks there are because of a person traveling too fast behind the wheel. Sometimes we get ahead of the Lord, we think our timing is better than His, and we are not willing to wait for and on Him. This is a day of high-speed everything! We are all in a hurry! But, it is good to learn to slow down in our life of following Christ.
Thankfully, for a Christian, we are never beyond repair, no matter how battered and smashed our life may become. A vehicle may be a total write-off, but for the one who knows Christ, there is always restoration. King David sinned, and had made moral »rock in His life. You can read about this failure in 2 Samuel 11, God having recorded it for us by divine inspiration as a warning. But David could latter affirm: "He restoreth my soul." Psalm 23:33He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:3)
However, there may be many dents and scrapes that we will have to carry the rest of our lives. David was happily and fully restored to the Lord in his soul. You can read Psalm 51, which is his prayer of repentance alter his sin is brought before Him by Nathan the prophet. In the government of God, Scripture states, "The sword shall never depart from thine house." 2 Samuel 12:1010Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. (2 Samuel 12:10)
Yes, sin often has consequences that remain with us for the rest of our lives! It is nota question of our eternal salvation, thankfully that is eternally secure in Christ Jesus. But the Bible plainly and faithfully tells us, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" Galatians 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
We won't have a wreck if we are traveling the road of life in complete dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who has promised to bring us safely through to our final destination...the Father's house. Let's keep our eye on the goal, and be ever mindful of the dangers and allurements around us. Here is a good verse to remember concerning God's people, the Israelites, who were traveling through the wilderness to the Promised Land:
Our Heavenly Guide is able! Trust His guidance, direction, and wisdom, everyday of your life!
It might be in order to conclude with an appeal to any who are still lost and in their sins. If you are traveling the road of life without the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, not only will you make wreck of this life, but it will end in eternal tragedy, disaster, and an unsalvageable wreck in hell. God clearly warns:
The great question is, are you on the right road? Sometimes on a journey I have thought 1 was on the right road, but in truth I was far from it, even going in the opposite direction from what I had hoped.
God's way of salvation for the lost, and blessing for the believer, has been made very plain in His Word...the guide book of life, the divine road atlas for man. Seek it out, and then walk in it everyday.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto it, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13,1413Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13‑14)
Most of us acquired our driver's license by taking a written exam as well as a road test, and meeting certain requirements set down by the government. However, to begin on the Christian path of faith, we must simply receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and be washed in His precious blood. The journey of life, naturally speaking, begins at birth. The journey of life, spiritually speaking, begins when we are saved. When Saul of Tarsus was struck down on the road to Damascus, it was a complete turn around in his life. He started on a new journey, down a new road...the Christian pathway.
POST SCRIPT: While this booklet has been written, with particularly our precious young people in mind, yet, there are wrecks on the road of life of all ages and experience. Accidents can happen to anyone if we are not careful, diligent, alert, and watchful. We have the example in the Old Testament of king Solomon, who started out well for the Lord, but we only have to read the book of Ecclesiastes to find out what happened at the end. He seemed to miss the path completely, much to his sorrow and heartache. He, himself, warns of, "an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished." Ecclesiastes 4:1313Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. (Ecclesiastes 4:13)
So many in Scripture made a good start but a poor finish. If there was reality, as in the case of Solomon, they will most certainly be in heaven. But God doesn't just want us to make a good start, He wants us to make a good finish as well. It is not only the beginning of a race that counts, but more importantly the ending. All we need is provided for the highway of life
He could affirm at the end of that course,
On the journey of life, many roads may be tough;
The pitfalls be many, the going get rough!
But, Jesus, is with us, and He is our guide;
He keeps and protects us, when, in Him alone, we confide.
As you speed on your way, just remember to Pray,
Consult with your Bible, God's map, everyday;
And trust in the Savior, ever watchful to see,
The turns, grades, and dangers, that lurk constantly.
No, you won't have a wreck, it your eye is on Christ,
You'll find at the end that His guidance sufficed:
And all that you needed, in Him you had found,
To bring you safe through, and with triumph abound.
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