Several Saturdays ago I agreed to feed and check the cattle for the person who owns the feedlot where I used to work. As I approached the railroad tracks in Sheldon which run parallel with old highway sixty, I noticed a sign to the right of the roadway that said DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS. And although I’m sure I passed that sign hundreds of time before, this time the sign struck me as kind of strange. Why would the state have to put up a sign that warned people to not stop on the tracks? I mean, surely anyone who is smart enough to get a driver’s license is smart enough not to stop on the tracks, right. Wouldn’t it be obvious that, if you stopped your vehicle on the tracks, a train could destroy your life?
As I was reflecting on the necessity of warning drivers not to stop on the tracks, the Holy Spirit asked me this question. Mike, you might be wise enough not to stop on the railroad tracks, but what are some thought patterns or actions in your life that have the potential to bring about your physical or spiritual destruction. The question stopped me dead in my tracks. The Holy Spirit was right, after giving it some thought, the Holy Spirit reminded me of some thought patterns and actions I had to confess and repent of before they destroyed me.
And how about you, you too might be smart enough never to stop on the railroad tracks, but could there be some attitudes and actions in your life that have the potential to destroy you? Or at least have the potential to disable you?
I was thinking of some foolish ways we “stand on the tracks” as though it would never hurt us. Things like refusing to accept what God has defined as sinful. Thinking I’ll get more serious about my relationship with God later. Doing just enough to get into heaven. Trying to live independent of God. Comparing our trouble-filled lives to those who seem to have no trouble. Feeling sorry for ourselves. Holding on to offenses, and I’m sure you could think of many more.
Jesus often addressed the danger of “standing on the tracks.” To the woman caught in adultery he said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” To the Pharisee he said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” To the invalid lying by the Pool of Bethesda he said, “Do you want to get well?” Later he said to him, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” To his disciples he said, “Why are you still afraid? Do you still have no faith?” To the crowd he said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” To the one who thought he was saved, “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” And I’m sure you can think of others.
May it not be so with you and me that we would live an unexamined life, standing on the tracks, unaware that the roaring lion is about to destroy us. But rather, may we heed the warning of the Holy Spirit, DO NOT STAND ON THE TRACKS that leads to destruction, but rather may we stay on the narrow road that leads to life!
Just saying,
Mike Altena