INTRODUCTION: It is rare that bad times fall on us without some indication they are approaching. The medical profession uses the term ‘acute’ to describe an illness that attacks suddenly and without apparent warning. Acute situations are rare, but because they come while we are not prepared the consequences often seem worse than had we been warned.
Too often we suffer the consequences of bad decisions, choices or intentions with this same dynamic. We simple don’t see it coming. But in most cases, if we look objectively at the situation, we can see signs that things are developing poorly.
In 1985 the National Guard unit I was serving in college experienced one of these acute attacks of stupidity. Now before I tell this I want you to know the difference between a war story and a fairy tale. A fairy tale starts off once upon a time, and a war story starts off now, this aint no lie.’’ Anyway this is how I remember the downward spiral we experienced that weekend.
“We weren’t originally scheduled to jump that weekend, but two C-130s from another state’s reserve wing were at our airbase with 3 hours of free time. Fixed wing air time is as hard to get as extra parachutes, but some how our headquarters had managed to get both that weekend. So we scratched our training plans for the drill and scrambled out to the airfield to climb aboard the planes to practice an inflight rigging and day jump. Let me explain just how good that sounds to a paratrooper. Normally you get up at 3am to go to a jump briefing, manifest call and prejump training so you can chute up as much as three hours before getting on the plane. Nothing about process is comfortable or enjoyable. By the time they open the aircraft door you’ll do anything to get out of the harness. Going out the door at 1500 feet is no deterrent after being in the harness so long.
That’s what made this jump sound so appealing, we were going to load the aircraft late morning, put our chutes on about 30 minutes before drop time and be done and back at the hangar before night fall. Man, that sounded too good to be true … and it was.
1) The were was a good reason those planes were in for maintenance checks. Their unit had lost three planes in the last year and they were at our hangar to determine why. They didn’t find anything wrong and scheduled them to return early, giving us an opportunity to get some air time. I think if any of us had known why this unscheduled air time was so easy to get we wouldn’t have been so quick to sign up for the jump.
2) Special Forces supply sergeants are notorious for coming up with the best stuff at the last minute so it didn’t surprise any of us when they were able locate chutes from another unit whose jump had been canceled. They drove all night to get the chutes, and got their just in time to load them on the plane before we were scheduled to take off. The only thing is, they weren’t the standard chute. They were post WWII chutes we called dinosaur skins. You can’t steer those chutes, the best you can do is turn into the wind and slow down your forward momentum. You should have seen the look on my Team Leader’s face when they loaded those old chutes on the plane.
3) Everyone starts getting real nervous about the jump now. We called it “bad ju ju”… after the old black and white Tarzan series. Scrambling around changing things at the last minute puts you at edge anyway and most of us had figured out their was something fishy about how fast we got loaded on the planes. They loaded the chutes, shut the doors and powered up for take off. (pause) Then someone says it. You know what I mean. Someone finally says what everyone is thinking. “Man, I got a bad feeling about this.” It’s ok think stuff like when things get risky, but you can’t actually say it. If you say it, its makes it come true. Its like the people your Mother doesn’t want to talk to in the restaurant. “quit pointing, its rude … and don’t look at them” “but mom that‘s …!” “shh” pow
Anyway, after its said you can’t take it back … and wouldn‘t you know it, the engines powered down real fast and spooky like. I’m telling you guys were popping up like daisies, unbuckling, and standing up and heading for the door.
To fast forward a little. They scratched the planes and we headed back for the hangar thinking the jump was canceled. But no, the Operations Shed had found a helicopter to jump from. But that meant only 8 could jump and they would have to use the very small field between the Armory and the run way, because we could no longer have the airspace over the big drop zone we were planning to use.
So we go from a morning jump, inflight rigging on a big drop zone using the standard equipment to jumping a late afternoon jump (which means the winds are pretty high the rest of the day, that‘s bad) on a postage stamp drop zone using dinosaur skins for chutes.
The result was not pleasant to watch. Our Commander and Sergeant Major were the first two out the door. It was pretty obvious the wind was taking them way off the drop zone. Within seconds it was clear they were going to land in the parking lot of the Armory. Our Commander made the most amazing move. He turns and faces the building just before he hit’s the transformer that powered the Armory. I don’t know how he did it but he climbed up his risers and swerved to my left about three feet miss the transform. When he lowered himself back down he swerved back to the right to land on top of the building! Man, what a gutsy move. But it worked, until the wind partially opened his chute and drug him off the top of the building. He landed face up on the wench of a Jeep parked beside the building. It messed him up pretty badly. But he lived and no one else was seriously hurt. But they did decide to cancel the jump after that.
That should not have been the outcome of the events that weekend. If we had just stepped back and took a good look at what was happening we would have scratched the jump long before things got stupid. In most cases this is true.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 1 gives us some insight into that downward spiral.
TEXTUAL IDEA: How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
There is an unparalleled happiness that comes from a life formed and guided by the Holy Spirit.
A life that remains firmly stationed on the high ground when the whole world seems hidden in the shadows along the valley of darkness.
A life of peace and rest that is accustomed to times of spiritual renewal at the end of times of intense labor.
But that is not so when we walk a different road, stand in a different place and
sit in a different seat.
TRANSITION: This alternate path does not fall on us suddenly. Rather it is often through small unnoticeable steps that we first begin to wander from a life molded and shaped by the Spirit of God.
SERMON IDEA: Today we will see those small deviant steps lead downward along a spiraling path. If we don’t take notice at the first of these wavering steps we find ourselves on a slippery slope, sliding further with every effort to regain higher ground.
1st STEP: Walking in the council of the wicked
If you aren’t experiencing a spirit formed life you are exercising one of two other options:
1) You are following your own lead
2) You are following Satan
I suppose one can make an argument for third option … You are doing what ever someone else tells you.
But let’s assume for a moment you are left to your own devices to find the way God would have you go. This means you have no map nor compass. You have no frame of reference to pinpoint your location. You are only aware of your immediate surroundings, those things you can touch, taste, see, hear and think. Throughout history man has repeatedly followed the same behavior pattern in this situation. Man, left to his own devices consumes everything around him until there is nothing else to taste, see, hear or smell. This drives him to another location in search of the same experience.
There is the hope and expectation that man learns from the negative experiences he encounters along this path. Even the lowest in the animal kingdom learns the cause and effect nature of this rational world God created for us live in. Some things produce unwanted results.
Trying to execute your life on earth without the guidance of the Holy Spirit is arrogant, ignorant and pointless.
Arrogant because it assumes we can know all we need to know. I don’t need any outside help, I can do this on my own. Western culture is particularly susceptible to this fallacy. I am the king of me … I am the master of my domain! We see these philosophies promoted at an increasing pace by the mass medias in America.
The unguided life is ignorant because its council is limited to what it can think or imagine. Paul tells us we have a hope far beyond anything we can imagine in Christ. God Himself tells us His ways are far higher than we can achieve on our own. Ignoring the council of that which created all is simply ignorant.
What commander ignoring the intelligence reports of his scouts can expect victory? In the words of Jesus, why would we even consider beginning a project without first evaluating our assets and counting the cost? In our Lord’s word we look foolish.
At best, a life lived by your own council is pointless. You were created for a purpose. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were no accident. God knew His plans for you long before He formed you in the womb. Why would you even consider executing that plan without His Spirit’s council?
I will spend little time arguing against the second option I proposed. If you aren’t experiencing a Spirit formed life you are following Satan. I will tell you this …the empty vessel is the easiest to fill.
2nd STEP: Standing in the path of sinners
Proverbs 14:11 “There is a way that seems right to man. But in the end its path leads to death.”
Everyone who follows any other path than the one God prepares before him follows a path to physical and spiritual death.
PROVERBS 12:3 - A MAN SHALL NOT BE ESTABLISHED BY WICKEDNESS: BUT THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT BE MOVED
A tree gets its strength from its roots. Without a strong root system it is not possible for us to follow any path but that of the least resistance.
Explain the different nature and purpose of roots
-Tap root goes deep and usually heads straight for the best source of water
-Smaller roots spread out and keep the soil around the tree conditioned and help keep the tree firmly anchored in the ground
-Shared root system of Cypress trees help each other grow and prepare for hard times
Consider the tree you brought home for a Christmas ornament. Its base scabs over with sap and if you don’t cut a small portion of it off it will soon turn brown because it cannot get water to the needles.
Here’s the point: no one along the path of sin is standing. Standing implies or at least prepares for movement. Spiritually, standing is connected to resisting evil. So when we stand, we are either gaining a stronger foothold or we are preparing to move. The path of unrighteousness is littered with the fallen either face down in shame or face up in complete defeat.
Spiritually, when you find yourself stagnant, its time to move. That downward spiral starts with you walking by something that is not of God but gets your attention. Next thing you know you have stopped and are looking at it more intently. Then seemingly without warning you find yourself sitting down right in the middle of it.
That friends brings us to the third step.
3: Sitting in the seat of the scoffers
I love that word scoffers. The image of them sitting is so accurate. How many times do you hear the loudest complaints coming from those who are idle. Scoffers have not only traded the wrong for the right, they constantly hinder the work of the saints. Ridiculing them for their work in areas they aren’t willing to try. Scoffers
As Christians, we sit in one of three chairs: 1. Commitment; 2 . Compromise 3. Conflict
CONCLUSION: Josh 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
