Ever since his sister backed her car into it, the driver’s side door on Bill’s truck would not close properly. Too busy to get it fixed just then, he just put it out of his mind.
Late one night as he drove highway 18 towards Torquay, Bill did not see a slippery section on the road ahead. When the truck hit the ice, it began to slide sideways, slamming Bill against the driver’s door. The door opened and (in the days before seatbelts) the next thing he remembers is sliding down the highway at 60 mph. The truck made a few revolutions on the highway, came straight towards him and then veered off into the ditch at the last second.
When Bill finally stopped sliding, he got up and surveyed the damage. He had a small cut on his head, his jeans were torn and the wallet in his back pocket was worn half way through. Otherwise, he was ok. In fact, he got back in his truck, closed the door a little more securely this time and drove home.
Bill unintentionally proved that it is possible to fall out of a truck at 60 mph and not only live to tell about it, but to do so relatively unharmed.
So, who is next? Obviously, it can be done, so who is willing to try it?
Of course, just because something can be done that does not mean that it should be done. Just because something is possible, that is no reason to think that it is a good idea.
When writing about our freedom, the inspired writer Paul says, “’Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).
Just because it is possible fall out of a truck at 60 miles an hour and not get hurt is no reason to try it. Just because everyone else is acting a certain way does not mean it is a wise thing to do (we teach our children that, right?). Just because we are free, that does not mean that we should only think about ourselves.
One thing that faith does is that it gives us a different perspective on life: God’s perspective.
When we examine our lives in light of God’s priorities, and not just our own, the Bible says that we will get a better outcome - both now and in eternity.
Late one night as he drove highway 18 towards Torquay, Bill did not see a slippery section on the road ahead. When the truck hit the ice, it began to slide sideways, slamming Bill against the driver’s door. The door opened and (in the days before seatbelts) the next thing he remembers is sliding down the highway at 60 mph. The truck made a few revolutions on the highway, came straight towards him and then veered off into the ditch at the last second.
When Bill finally stopped sliding, he got up and surveyed the damage. He had a small cut on his head, his jeans were torn and the wallet in his back pocket was worn half way through. Otherwise, he was ok. In fact, he got back in his truck, closed the door a little more securely this time and drove home.
Bill unintentionally proved that it is possible to fall out of a truck at 60 mph and not only live to tell about it, but to do so relatively unharmed.
So, who is next? Obviously, it can be done, so who is willing to try it?
Of course, just because something can be done that does not mean that it should be done. Just because something is possible, that is no reason to think that it is a good idea.
When writing about our freedom, the inspired writer Paul says, “’Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).
Just because it is possible fall out of a truck at 60 miles an hour and not get hurt is no reason to try it. Just because everyone else is acting a certain way does not mean it is a wise thing to do (we teach our children that, right?). Just because we are free, that does not mean that we should only think about ourselves.
One thing that faith does is that it gives us a different perspective on life: God’s perspective.
When we examine our lives in light of God’s priorities, and not just our own, the Bible says that we will get a better outcome - both now and in eternity.
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