Christian, What Are You Doing?

Isaiah 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

            Have you ever had that “voice,” an ever so “soft voice” that said “yes,” or possibly “no?”  I have heard that “voice” say, “no” more times than I want to admit, and way too many times, I have disobeyed that “voice”. 

            What brought this message to my mind was watching drivers here in Texas.  I see so many drivers making right or left turns by crossing over many lanes of traffic using the “whole” road as “their personal driving space.”  (Now I know “Texans” will tell me that it is all those “Yankees” and their bad driving habits that they brought with them.”  Having driven in a lot of our country, I cannot tell much difference in driving habits, in the north or south.)

            So Brother John, how are “these turns” related to our scripture?  “If” we are as true a follower of Jesus as we say we are, we signal (pray) and ask for guidance when we make a turn.  Guided, we do turn, and will stay in the correct lane.  When we need to change lanes, we will signal (pray) (and only then) follow our Guide.  (A person who purposely walks with God will (should) purpose in his life to walk a proper path as some of the lanes before us are lanes of sin and strife.  Sometimes we must cross those paths of sin and strife.  In so doing we must signal, (pray for protection) while we are in those “horrifying lanes.” )

            This simile is for those drivers who turn [live a lifestyle of their own choosing] of their own free will and move about as if they owned the road, (are moving from one sin to another and each becoming less gratifying than the last.)  They finally will make u-turn after u-turn only to find “the vertigo of the turns and the lane changes” are captivating.  (Not “captivating” in the sense of the thrill of sin, but “captivating” in the sense of imprisonment.)

Romans 1:28-32  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  (29)  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  (30)  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  (32)  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

God will eventually give them “over to a reprobate mind.” 

            Our task, as a Christian, is to remind them of their sin and attempt to lead them away from sin and toward God’s Way.  We are to love the individual, but hate their sin.  We are to show them that there is “a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.”

            We must try to direct them to God, before He gives “them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”  What a horrifying thought:  someone “so lost” that they are not retrievable.  Someone lost to eternal damnation in the eternal lake of fire.

            “Christian, what are you doing?   We must get on our knees and “signal” to God we need help, help to lead a loved one, a friend, or an associate to Him.”  Desire His help.  Know He will help.

            Always signal and turn “into the correct lane.”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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