Watch Out For the Potholes!

As I’ve recently driven through New York City, both on the highways and local streets, I’ve felt as if I’ve been driving through a video game called, “Watch Out For the Potholes!” After all, you never know where the next pothole is going to show itself. Unless your reflexes are quick enough to either swerve around it or straddle it, you can easily find yourself barreling through it and possibly blowing a tire or wrecking the front end of your car. On one entrance ramp to the Grand Central Parkway, there was such a huge pothole (which I fortunately missed), that just after it eight to nine cars were parked along the side of the road checking their tires, all apparently having bounded through the massive hole in the middle of the roadway.

The news reports have confirmed what any of us who have driven in New York City know. This winter the City has a pot hole crisis. In spite of the fact that the City has thus far fixed over 45,000 potholes, it is now taking an average of six days, rather than the normal two days, to fix a pothole once it has been reported or found. Thus, the number of potholes continues to grow at an astounding rate, making driving through the City quite a hazardous experience.

If you ask me, it sounds a lot like life in general. After all, our lives are filled with all kinds of “pot holes” – i.e. hazards or temptations that threaten to sideline us, harm us, and even destroy us. Some of these “potholes” are the result of the fact that we live in a very difficult world; one which is filled with all kinds of temptations. And, we know that there is one who is out to throw as many “potholes” in our way as possible, as he seeks to sideline us from the life that God has called us to live. We have an adversary who is working against us every step of the way, placing all kinds of temptations into our path.

That’s why Jesus taught us to pray: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”( Matthew 6:13-NIV) And, he gave his disciples these instructions: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41-NIV)

Finally, the Apostle Paul gave us these words of instruction and encouragement: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 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 that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13-NIV)

In other words, don’t get careless as you drive through life. Stay awake. Stay in prayer. Stay alert, always watching out for the next “pothole” that might suddenly show up in your path. As you do, God will help you by giving you the insight, the reflexes, and the strength you need to overcome every temptation that may come your way. He’s a God who is able to take you safely through every “pothole” of life.

Have a great day! And, drive safely!

-Pastor Tim Harris

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