Friday, August 14, 2009

A Driving Distraction

Sending text messages has become so commonplace to many that they continue to do it while driving their vehicles. This is not limited to teenagers. Even long-haul truckers who are away from home a great deal make use of texting. A new study by Virginia Tech used video cameras over a period of 18 months and found that their collision risk was “23 times greater than when not texting.” The study showed, “In the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers typically spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices — enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more than the length of a football field.” Rich Hanowski, who oversaw the study concluded “Compared with other sources of driver distraction, “texting is in its own universe of risk.” Wow, imagine a fully loaded 18 wheeler coming at you at 70 mph and the driver is texting his wife about what they are having for supper. Scarry.
Here is something even more scarry. All of us are careening at breakneck speed toward eternity. God’s word says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27). And we are distracted! Jesus spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem in Luke 21, and the same applies to us as we face judgment,  "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.”(Luke 21:34) There are so many distractions. Some of them are sinful things, like drunkenness, but others are simply the daily cares of life. Yes, we have to have food, clothing, shelter, even rest and recreation time, but we had better make sure that we are not distracted to the neglect of the most important things in life. Nothing is more important to you than the care of your soul and where you will spend eternity. Have the distractions kept you from thinking about that? Jesus asked, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”(Matt 16:26-27).
The Bible tells us we should love the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind (Matt 22:37). We must not be distracted from this most important thing. If we will come to Christ in faith (John 8:24), repenting of our sins(Acts 2:38), confessing Christ(Rom. 10:9-10), be baptized into Jesus death(Mark 16:16, Rom. 6:3-4) and be faithful to Him(Rev. 2:10), we will be saved. That is something too important to allow other things to distract us. Are you paying attention?
David Courington

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