Snow Day

 

In Matthew 22:14 Jesus said,

"Many are cold, and a few are frozen"

Sorry, that’s "Many are called, but few are chosen"

 

Today, I drew the short straw and I have been chosen!

I’m coming to you live -- from the church auditorium where the temperature is currently…just perfect! Let’s have a fireside chat, you and me, right there in your living room.  Wait, are you wearing pajamas in church?

 

Jesus often used object lessons [parables].

A.Behold a Sower went forth to sow.

B.What man of you having 100 sheep.

C.They help to impress spiritual lessons.

D.Today let’s use a familiar object-our car, and driving in snow.

 

Growing up in the mountains of NM, my playground varied in altitude from 6-12k feet, making the mile high city seem like a valley.  We got snow by the feet, and it lingered on the shady side of our mountain into July.  I have skied and snow-shoed in shorts in 70 degree weather! And I have done hundreds of hours of plowing, for the fun of it! Anyway, we had to learn to drive in snow, and I know you are proficient at it.  Matter of fact, everyone listening to my voice is an excellent winter driver…it’s a wonder that virtually everyone else is such an idiot!

 

Right now the south is blanketed in snow and ice, and they aren’t prepared.  It would be comical if it weren’t so dangerous, and we should pray for them…and our own northern neighbors for that matter.

 

As a general rule, pretend you are driving grandma to church, and there’s two gallon jars of iced tea in the back seat, and grandma’s wearing a new dress while holding a crock pot full to the brim with gravy.

 

Let’s winterize our lives and consider some winter driving tips as a spiritual object lesson of some very important Bible truths:

 

I. STEER STRAIGHT.
A. Steering determines success and safety. But in snow, it must be ever so gradual.  Just try to go straight as much as possible.

B. When driving, it’s important not to swerve.
C. The way to heaven is straight and narrow.
Matthew 7:13

    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

2. Devil lures us-we must say no.
3. Lk. 9:62 "No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, it fit for the kingdom of God…” [look back=veer!]

- God instructs us not to turn-

Joshua 1:7

    … that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law…turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

 

Satan has arranged a perfect storm of circumstances.  He has a will for your life, and it involves drifting.  Stay in your lane.

 

Measure your tread, don’t let wheel-wells get snow packed.

Without traction, you are not in control.  And unless God is in control of my life, I am out of control!

 

II. DON’T SLIP CLUTCH.

Ill.—Grand National with an automatic
A. Clutch connects motor to drive wheels. This is not the time for peeling out and showing off.
Hebrews 2:1

    Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

 

The world is just watching for you to slip up. And if you make a wreck out of your life you’ll take others out with you in a multi-car pile up that will make the news.

 

Our NASCAR friends down south are used to going fast everywhere, and bump-drafting just inches behind the guy in front of them.  This is no time for that.

 

• Slipping a clutch is a gradual maneuver-and spiritual slipping is also gradual. You would never make a huge jump into some big time sin…but your flesh WILL ask you to go just a little farther, a little more…almost imperceptible moves in the wrong direction, and before you know it, you are on a slippery slope and can’t recover…you end up in a ditch with major damage, and you may not even escape with your life!
   
• III. KEEP BATTERY CHARGED

Breaking down in the cold is awful, but even worse when your engine can’t idle and the heat cannot blow. Flat tire?  Not as big of a deal…just sit in the heat and wait for help to arrive.

 

Ill.-my daughter breaking down without a coat

A. Car battery must be continually charged.
B. If alternator goes out-in a short time you have trouble.
C. Our spiritual batteries must be continually re-charged.
1. Isaiah 40:31

•     But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
• 2. 2 Cor. 4:16
•     For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
• 3. Col. 3:10
•     And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
• 4. Psalm 51:10
•     Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
•  

IV. GOT FUEL?
A. The most beautiful and powerful car in the world is helpless without fuel.
B. Must have spiritual strength to do great things.
C. Samson was strong because of fuel from God- Judges 16:20 And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him..
D. Paul’s fuel was Christ- Phil. 4:13 "I can do all ..."
1. 1 Tim. 1:12

    And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

2. 2 Cor. 9:8

    And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound [high octane!] to every good work:

 

In the cities, people honk a lot.  Hurry up!  I don’t recommend doing this in snow when everyone is stressed enough already.

V. DON’T BLOW YOUR OWN HORN.
A. A horn is of value-unless it’s abused.
B. Some boast of themselves.
1. (Matthew 6)

2. Matthew 23:5

    But all their works they do for to be seen of men:

 

VI. OBEY LAWS.
A. Get tired of laws when driving, but for our good.
B. Auto laws should be obeyed- Rom. 13:1=obey authority
C. My mother in law needs reminded that STOP does not stand for "Slightly-Tap-On-Pedal."
1. Ezra 7:26

    And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him…

 

Jack heard the siren and looked into his rear view mirror at the lights of the cop car right behind him.  He took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?

     He pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with their mirror, he thought to himself.

     He watched in his side mirror as the cop stepped out of his car, with the big pad in his hand.

     “Bob?  Officer Bob from Church?”

     Jack sunk into his trench coat. This was worse than just getting a ticket.

     A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

     Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a

     man he'd never seen in uniform.

    

     "Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."

     "Hello, Jack." He said, without a smile. “Please get back into your vehicle…it’s for your safety.”

     "Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."

     "Yeah, I guess." Officer Bob seemed uncertain.

[Jack was walking backward, slowly, in no hurry to assume the position. He was hoping to talk to a friend, not submit to an authority.]

     "I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent

     the rules a bit, just this once."

Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement.

"The wife said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?"

    

     Officer Bob: "I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct."

Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.

     "What did you clock me at?"

     "Over Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"

    

     "Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I

     was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every

     ticket. "Please, Jack, in the car."

     Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.

     Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's

     license?

         

     Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack

     ever sat near this cop in church again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down

     the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him

     the slip.

    

     "Thanks a lot." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.

    

     Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his

     retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much

     was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this?

    

     Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

         

     "Dear Jack,

          Once upon a time, before you came to our church, I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it--a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters -- All three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now.

     Pray for me.

     And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left."

    Signed:   "Bob"

 

2. Tit. 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities…
3. (Matthew 22:21) And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."
4. (1 Peter 2:13-14) "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; {14} Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him …

We are to be examples even when feeling inclement…the world is watching!

 

VII. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT

"Spiritual Hazard Kit"

1. Non Perishable Food--Scripture

Have some things on hand to sustain you through. Memorized Scriptures can help more than anything. Just a phrase of Scripture to grasp in the dead of our "winter" can be a great comfort to us.

2. Extra Blankets and Warm Clothing--Fellowship

During a "winter" some people forget about attending church and fellowshipping with other Christians. How much more it is needed when trials come into our lives. Having fellowship with other believers strengthens us. We need their love, support, and prayers. It becomes a real warmth to us.  We miss fellowship on a snow day such as this.

3. Drinking Water--Christ the Living Water

Bottled water in a winter emergency is a must. We need it to survive just like we need the Living Water. We need Christ and His Word to live. Relying on Him will keep us from a parched existence.

Drink in His love, His promises, His blessings, and His strength.

 

VII.   SPIRITUAL ANTIFREEZE!

Matthew 24:12

    And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Attitudes like icicles these days.

 

There’s a salt shortage, they say.  Let’s be the salt of the earth.

 

We love you, stay safe and warm.  Let us know if we can help you! [pray]