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Looking Ahead

     When you are learning to drive you receive a lot of advice. One such piece of advice that is good to heed is to see as far down the road as possible. This is important, especially if traffic ahead has slowed down or comes to a complete stop. When you are confronted with something of this caliber, you want as much time to prepare for it as possible.

Seeing as far down the road as possible is not only good for driving but is applicable also to our spiritual lives as well. We must consider the path we are on and the direction it is taking us. Otherwise, the consequences could be disastrous.

For example, in the book of Lamentations we read, “Her uncleanness is in her skirts; she did not consider her destiny; therefore, her collapse was awesome; she had no comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction, for the enemy is exalted!” (Lamentation 1:9)

During the days before this writing, Jerusalem had been warned frequently to repent of their wicked ways. However, they would not listen or give any heed to the prophets of God. Instead, they continued in sin and rebellion against God until they were finally taken into Babylonian captivity. Note the writing from 2 Chronicles.

And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. (2 Ch. 36:15-16)

We do well to learn from the mistakes of Judah. We must avoid getting caught up in the here and now, thus losing sight of what is directly ahead. The devil is a master of distraction. He puts things before us periodically to keep us focused on the short-term, when we should be thinking about long-term results.

Jesus taught us about these distractions in His parable of the Sower. He talks about the seed that lands on thorny ground. The seed begins to grow but is choked out by the thorns. Jesus tells us exactly what the thorns are. He says, “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” (Luke 8:14)

The only way to be pleasing unto God, is to look beyond the cares, riches, and pleasures of this earth. We must focus our minds upon the things above as Paul instructed in Colossians 3:2. The more we do this, the less we will become distracted along the way. Ultimately, we will be prepared for our grand entrance into eternity!

God Bless each of you,

Eric Hicks

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