FATAL DISTRACTIONS
    “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have
 already been made perfect, but I press on to take
 hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
Philippians 3:12

“Startling statistics reveal that texting while driving can be fatal, film at eleven…” Don’t you just love it when the media hypes a story that is nothing more than common sense? Everyone should already know that it’s dangerous to text while driving; as well as talking on the phone, changing clothes, putting on makeup, shaving, or even eating. The list is endless, but some of us are guilty of one or more of these dangerous activities anyway. There is just something within us that convinces us that we are invincible; that accidents only happen to people who can’t multitask. However, none of that is true. All of us will become a victim of a fatal distraction, sooner or later, if we don’t get serious about eliminating them from our life. While conquering our bad habits behind the wheel of a car may be pretty easy to overcome, there are a few other distractions in life that are just as fatal if we refuse to acknowledge them or if we are aware of the danger they pose, but become stuck in the rut of indifference when it comes to making any changes.  
 
Fears…
 
We all have fears about something in our life. Some of us have faced them head on refusing to let them control us, while the rest of us try the best we can to avoid or ignore them. In a marriage, fears of intimacy can prevent a couple from achieving the oneness that God desires between a husband and wife. Fears of failure can keep a spouse from following their dream which can create an invisible undercurrent of tension. Our fears will either stop us in our tracks, rendering us ineffective or they can motivate us to go in a different direction so that we don’t have to face them. I have battled with fear all of my life, even though I am fairly intelligent, articulate and funny. As I look back on my life, there are times when I have subconsciously sabotaged my success because I didn’t trust God. By avoiding doors of opportunity I eliminated facing my fears. My fear of not being able to achieve perfection left me standing on the sidelines playing a game of what “if”… We must trust that God knew what He was doing when He gave us our gifts and talents. We need to jump into the pool of our destiny, learning how to swim in both ends; the shallow waters as well as the deep, the calm waters as well as the swift and in the pristine waters as well as the murky. What’s your fear? Ask God for the strength and wisdom to face it today.
 
Addictions...
 
If you don’t believe you have any addictions, just try to stop doing an activity you enjoy. Although I have struggled with many different addictions over the years, I have been blessed with God’s grace to identify and deal with them before they ruined my world. With that said, let me also add that my life and my family’s would have been far better if I had never been addicted to anything. Let me also say that addictions are not limited to drugs, alcohol or pornography, although these addictions can be very destructive. Recently I discovered that I was addicted to coffee. It’s not illegal, immoral or fattening, but anything done in excess has a consequence. I began to experience some physical discomfort after consuming more than two pots of the delicious beverage a day. Since I don’t believe that it’s harmful consumed in appropriate amounts (doesn’t that sound like a rationalization?) I have cut my “habit” down to two cups a day which are consumed with breakfast. Occasionally, I will celebrate by having a cup with friends over dessert, but I try to limit myself to one cup. I guess you could say that I am a “social” drinker, knowing my limitations but still enjoying a strong hot cup of liquid bliss.  
 
Temptations...
 
We all face temptation in our life; even Jesus was tempted while here on earth to put his own desires above those of His heavenly Father’s. Temptation is not our problem. Our problem is what we do when we are tempted. Do we succumb to the seductive voice of temptation or do we recognize it for what it is; a fatal distraction? Men are visual creatures. We are constantly being bombarded with images that beg us to take a longer look, to indulge our fantasies or to actively participate in whatever pleasure is being advertised. There is a real war raging for the souls of men, but women are not immune to temptation either. For women, the war goes underground. The enemy is not as blatant, although to quote an old cigarette ad, temptation for women has “come a long way baby”. Women are emotional creatures. They are more susceptible to temptations that pull at their heart strings; a tragic event, a romantic encounter or an empty heart longing for attention. The key, for both men and women, is to be aware of their weaknesses and to commit themselves to purity. Jesus promised us that “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 10:13). When tempted, remember to look for the door.
   
Arrogance…
 
Arrogance is not limited to those who are smart, rich or famous. We all have the ability to be arrogant, even you and me! Arrogance is simply the act of putting ourselves above the fray; believing that we are immune to the problems of “those” people. Trust me; it can be so subtle that we can miss it if we are not careful. As Christians we can begin to think that our “sins” don’t stink. We see ourselves as the “redeemed”, who can do no wrong anymore. Talk about fatal. In Proverbs 16:18 it says that, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”. In a marriage, it’s so important to understand that God brought you together to complement each other. Your strengths and weaknesses are offset by those of your spouse and the combination of the two is a blessing to the marriage. Neither one of you have all the answers to life’s questions, but together you can find comfort in knowing, talking with and listening to the one who does, God.
 
Ladders…
 
Ladders are a great invention. They extend our reach far beyond our own physical capabilities. They are also portable, which can be a blessing and a curse. It’s just a matter of placement. When we use ladders, we have to be sure that they are leaning against the right wall. Climbing the ladder to success can become a nightmare if it tears apart your marriage, your family or your relationship with God. God wants us to be successful, but His definition of success is different than the worlds. First, we need to be sure that we have our ladders on the right wall based on our talents and our faith. There are just some walls that Christians shouldn’t climb. I’ll leave that topic for another day. Secondly, if our ladder is on the right wall, we must be sure that we are “holy” climbers; climbers who are faithful in word and deed. In honor of everyone who is out there on the right wall, “Climb on!”
 
Fatal distractions are everywhere. I have only been able to cover a few of them with you today. As you check your pulse this week, ask God to reveal the ones that He wants you to deal with. Ask for His help and He will be faithful to give you whatever assistance that you need. My biggest concern is that you don’t wait until the 11th hour of your life, like the teasers we hear on the news. By taking the time to avoid fatal distractions you will begin to reap a life full of joy right now. I want to encourage you to “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of” you.
 
Del Brixey
“Fatally Saved”
 
CHALLENGED TO THE CORE
P.O. BOX 414
LAKE ARROWHEAD, CA 92352-0414
 
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