I really don’t think that I overindulge all that much. I confess that I do have quite the appreciation for Starbucks coffee. But because I spend an enormous amount of time in my car I confess that I gave in a couple of years ago and purchased a subscription to Sirius XM radio. I do love it! I mean anything and everything at the touch of you fingertips. I must tell you that gospel music and major news outlets are my favorite landing sites as witnessed by my favorites settings. The news stations are exceptionally nice as I can continue listening to the programming I was watching as I leave the house and get on the road. Such was the occasion last week when I had to leave early and wanted to hear a particular interview. This is wonderful I thought. I can just catch the interview while driving and not lose any time day’s travels. It’s funny now that I write about it, but at the time I found myself a wee bit frustrated. I was driving to Ashland Kentucky along US 23 which runs along the south side of the Ohio river right next to some of the most beautiful and picturesque hills you will ever see. My timing was impeccable, at the very moment the most exciting part of the interview was playing those beautiful hills blocked MY SATELITTE SIGNAL!!!! Sorry, the frustration was creeping back a bit. I think the exact words I spoke to my empty car were, “I can’t believe this!” Then I laughed. I even laughed out loud, again to an empty car. I laughed because it was I who drove my vehicle into a place where the satellite signal wasn’t! The satellite did nothing wrong nor did the hills. It was all my fault. I missed the most important part of what I really wanted to hear and it was all my fault. Did you ever stop and think about those times when we miss what’s best for us that it’s usually our fault? It’s certainly not God’s. His word tells us. God has great things in mind for us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The scriptures also remind us that He truly cares. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Since The Lord wants what is best for us and because He really cares it is up to us to stay in contact with Him!
Kind of reminds me of a story I heard about an old man and an old woman, who had been married for many years, were driving to church one Sunday morning. They fell in behind another car being driven by a young man. He was of college age or younger. Sitting beside the young man was a young woman, obviously his girlfriend. In fact, she was sitting so close to him that a credit card could not have been slipped between them. She was almost sitting in his lap, her head resting on his shoulder. The old woman grew nostalgic. She began to think of her and her husband’s younger years when they were so in love with each other. They used to drive up and down the strip of their hometown every Friday night just like the young couple now in front of them. She turned to her husband sitting behind the steering wheel on the other side of the front seat. Accusingly, almost bitterly, she said, “Look at them. Look at how they love each other. Why don’t we drive through town like that any more? Why don’t we sit that close together like we used to?” She was met with silence. Her husband said not a word. After a few minutes the old man looked over at his wife and said, “I haven’t moved.” I love that! It’s true isn’t it? Often when we find ourselves in a difficult place it’s because the signal was lost and we are not in constant communication with the Father. We must be careful not to drift into a place where we loose the signal.
I remember an old study I shared once about drifting and it focused on three key thoughts. First, Drifting requires no effort. Just stop rowing the boat and you’ll see clearly the danger here. Perhaps that’s why the Hebrew writer warned, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Secondly, Drifting can be an unconscious process. It is possible to drift and not be aware you are drifting. I remember what Dennis Kin law once said. “It is tragic to not know Jesus, but it is more terrifying to picture the soul that thinks they have God and do not!” Remember, when a Christian begins to drift it starts slowly. The last truth I want to share is that Drifting never takes you upstream! You always go down –never get closer to God. Faithfulness to the Lord requires effort on our part. You must be constantly be adding to your faith. Pastor Peter said, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” If you want good reception in your communication with God then it’s up to you. Always make sure there is never anything blocking the signal! Don’t drift, stay focused and stay faithful. Dr. B.J. Miller once said, "It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it." J. Bridges in “The Pursuit of Holiness” writes, “Faith and holiness are inextricably linked. Obeying the commands of God usually involves believing the promises of God.” Do you have a good signal?
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