Devotionals

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OUT-OF-CONTROL ICE

My dad had been transferred to the Space Vehicle Department of GE to Philadelphia recently. My older brother Dwight had just gotten married. That left this skinny 16-year old with the use of the family car---and it was a beaut: a '56 Green & White Chevy 4-door sedan, including those gas-guzzling 4-barrel carburators. As long as I took my mother where she wanted to go, I otherwise had the benefit of its motorizing talents. A part-time restaurant job to pay for the gasoline and I was all set. It was just like having my own car.

One big change right away: no more riding on that school bus. I didn't like the school bus any more than it liked me (I suppose). In addition, I played sports after school and driving to school made it possible for me and my friends to have transportation home after practices and games.

It was a blustery winter day. Weather did not look too bad when I left home. Made it to the 3-Lane Lincoln Highway, connecting York to Lancaster and on to Philadelphia. Turned right and headed for Wrightsville, home of the Eastern H.S. "Golden Knights." Then the weather got worse---fast. "He hurls down His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?" Psalm 147:17. "Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?" Job 38:29b,30. Admittedly, I was a novice at driving on ice. If fact, this was my maiden voyage. I was at the top of a long, long hill---headed downward.

Then I woke up!
I had met the ENEMY, and it was ICE!
The road was a sheet of ice!
The 'noble' '56 Chevy had met its match, too.
We started to slide---I hit the brake instinctively...
Bad move, very bad move!
We (car and I were in this together)
started spinning sideways.
OUT-OF-CONTROL.
Turning the steering wheel was no help.
Spinning.
OUT-OF-CONTROL. One or two complete revolutions.
Then, off to the side and headfirst into
a ditch on the right side of the road.
Quickly turned the engine off.
Stuck in an ice/snow bank.
Thankful that no cars had come up the hill
from the opposite direction.

A couple of snowplows and sand/salt trucks
passed by...
I was stunned emotionally.
Pride hurt, too.

The next part I attribute to one great car...
I turned on the ignition.
Started right up and raring to go.
Backwards? The ONLY option.
I did have good snow treads.
Up the bank we went in reverse gear. Wow!
Out onto the main road.
And off to school (a little late and a little shaken at that)!

Walking on ICE is like rendezvousing with sin.
One can touch the ice and step back---and seem to be OK. Putting both feet on the ice is most likely unstable---the wobbles. Moving forward slowly is unsteady---the wobblejeebies. Walking fast---OUT-OF-CONTROL---and one's balance is lost completely. PRIMED FOR A FALL? Imminent.

The process of sinning usually starts innocently enough: a fleeting glance, a flashing thought. King David experienced it: "From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful," 2 Sam 11:2b. Did David shut down the sinning process? No. "and David sent someone to FIND OUT ABOUT her." 2 Sam 11:3a. And the sinning cycle was in high gear... Most likely, you know the rest of that story.

"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted, when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin , when it is full-grown , gives birth to death." James 1:13,14. James takes us from touching the ICE to taking the fall on the ICE.

Following are 4 Scriptures verses. I selected a phrase from each. I encourage you to read each entire Scripture.
1 Peter 4:7,8. CLEAR-MINDED
1 Peter 1:13. MINDS FOR ACTION
2 Peter 3:1,2. STIMULATE WHOLESOME THINKING
James 4:7. RESIST THE DEVIL

Our knowing, loving, discerning God the Father does not leave us helpless and hopeless: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is FAITHFUL; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it." 1 Cor 10:13. God be praised!

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