Avoid Foolishness

INTRO.- We need to learn how to avoid certain pitfalls and even disasters in life.

ILL.- One time I was driving home around 10 p.m. I had worked all day in a retail store and was tired and sleepy. I was driving about 55 to 60 mph when I suddenly started to fall asleep. I didn’t even realize it. My eyes closed and my head dropped. I suspect that some have had that same experience.

I don’t how it happened, but for some reason I woke up, I looked up and there was a car directly in front of me with its left turning signal on. There was an oncoming car from the other direction so the car in front of me couldn’t turn yet. And I was very close to that car in front of me, driving nearly 60 mph. It looked like I was going to hit that car in the rear and at that speed it would be a disaster. Someone, including me, could get killed.

I only had a second or two to react. I didn’t want to hit that car and killed that driver, for sure. I quickly jerked the steering wheel to the right and went off the pavement, on the side of the road. There was gravel and felt my car sliding a bit. There was also a road sign and I just knew I was going to hit it but that was better hitting that car. Instead of hitting my brakes at that speed, I floored the accelerator. I felt the back end of the end sliding and the wheels spinning in that gravel, but I did not take out that road sign. But I heard a noise and figured I hit a portion of that sign with the right rear side of my car.

My house was just a few miles up the road. As soon as I pulled in, I got out and inspected my car. To my surprise, I saw no damage to my car. I had avoided hitting that car and that sign. And I just knew that if I’d hit that car one or both of us would have been killed or greatly injured. I don’t recall what I said at that time but I’m pretty sure I said something like, “Thank you, Lord!”

Was it the Lord who saved me or was it me who saved me and that other driver? I would like to give myself some credit but I really think it was the Lord who saved us both. I think He suddenly woke me or maybe it was that angel who didn’t like riding with me. And I think it was the Lord who gave me the quick thought to drive off the side of the road and it was the Lord who kept me from hitting that road sign as well.

Don’t you think it’s better that I give the Lord the credit for saving me rather than taking the credit myself?

I Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink, of what you do, do it all to the glory of God.” So if you are saved from an accident, you should glorify God by giving Him the credit and the praise.

I Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Give thanks and praise in all circumstances, including bad or scary circumstances.

Life is full of difficult and/or disastrous situations or situations that could be disastrous. And it’s not just car accidents or mishaps. It’s people relationships and many other things. Some people relationships fall apart and become a big disaster unless the Lord somehow intervenes.

We need to look to the Lord always! We need His wisdom and counsel always! We need His protection and security in life. He is bigger than life itself and bigger than us. He’s the only one who can save us, protect us, and make us secure in life and in eternity.

Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” And He will give us even more than rest. He will give us wisdom discernment, strength, and grace.

Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

In this text, Paul advised Titus on how to avoid certain trouble in life by looking to the Lord and listening to His word.