Episode #7 - Dangerous Distractions

Yesterday I was nearly hit head on by a distracted driver. Being distracted while behind the wheel claims the lives of thousands of people every year. It is not just dangerous to yourself, but also to others. Well...every day we face dangerous distractions to our faith. Sin and the lusts of this world tempt us to take our eyes of Jesus. When we do so, we find our lives wrecked as we drift from the straight and narrow path. Put away dangerous distractions, and set your mind above!

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Transcript

Welcome to the Set Your Mind Above podcast, where every day, ordinary events teach us extraordinary eternal truths! I am your host BJ Sipe, and I’m so glad you’ve tuned in today! I am excited to share my life & my faith with you, and I sure hope you’ll do the same with me along the way.

I had a close call yesterday as I was on my way home from work. I had just wrapped up yesterday’s podcast and jumped in the car to go grab some dinner with the family before our Wednesday evening Bible study. My office at our place of worship is only about 5-7 minutes away from our neighborhood, three turns in total. I was driving down the longest stretch of the two-lane road going towards the Christian Academy, and I got to the point in the road where it curves left right before you come up on the roundabout. About 100 yards in front of me driving in the other direction was a big truck, brown in color and hugging the center dividing line between our lanes. He came around the curve…but he didn’t turn. He continued straight on into my lane head on now about 50 yards away from me. I immediately took action – I blared my horn and swerved hard right into the median & nearly into the ditch before he jolted his vehicle back towards his lane. As we passed one another, probably within 10 feet of each other, I could clearly see the driver through his window. He had his right hand on the wheel, and his left hand holding his cell phone. He didn’t even stop to glance at me or mouth the word “sorry”, but after correcting his direction as he passed me his eyes were again glued to his phone. I drifted back into my lane, my heart racing while I slowed down for my upcoming turn at the end of the curve. Pulling into my garage a few short minutes later I said a prayer and thanked God for my safe journey home, walked in and hugged my family. Being distracted is one of the most dangerous things you can do while operating a vehicle. According to the NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), 3142 lives were lost in 2019 alone as a result of distracted driving. This would include many different kinds of distractions: the use of a cell phone, fidgeting with the stereo, putting on make-up, those kinds of things. The problem is that most people think that it’s not a problem at all. They feel as though their driving is not impacted, that they are completely safe to text or do these other things while in the driver’s seat. You might believe that and feel that way now, but so did everyone else before they were involved in the accidents that claimed the lives of over 3000 people. The truth of the matter is that you need to keep your eyes on the road, and distractions prevent you from doing that. When your eyes are taken off the road, even for a split second, you may soon find yourself in a very dangerous position that will bring harm to you, others, or both. You might very well be in the car driving as you are listening to this podcast, and if that is the case, please, if even for my sake alone, don’t touch your phone again until you are completely stopped. Distracted driving is dangerous, and once the damage is done that’s it – you can’t bring back a child’s mommy or daddy or someone’s little boy or little girl.  It’s just not worth it.

Dangerous distractions are a part of our everyday lives, but not just while we are operating a vehicle. They can happen at any waking moment, and they are the very things that keep us from setting our minds above & keeping our eyes on Jesus. Consider what Scripture says in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Every day we wake up, we must make the decision that we are going to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not become distracted by the things of this world. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life tempt us in so many ways to shift our focus and become enamored with the things that will destroy us. The Scripture teaches that we must cast these things off, that we must put down any and all distractions that would cause us to drift from the straight and narrow path. Because the moment I take my eyes off Jesus and fix them on other things, the further I will drift away from him. Before we know it, our lives are wrecked as a result of the consequences of our sins. There are several applications we need to take away from this. First, the sinful distractions of this world are dangerous and will cause spiritual ruin. Just as many think there is nothing dangerous with texting and driving, many think that there is nothing wrong with the sinful practices in their lives. That one can both serve God & serve their fleshy lusts at the same time. The apostle Paul warns in Ephesians 5:6-7, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them;” Sin is dangerous and destructive, you cannot serve God while you’re distracted by the world. Second, just as a distracted driver could lose his life or take the life of another, so our sinful actions do not just harm us but can bring great harm to those around us. Our influence could encourage others to take their eyes off Jesus as well, because after all if we’re doing it (whatever it is), how bad could it really be? As the Scripture says, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6). Also, the consequences of our actions impact others. The man who takes his eyes off Jesus and is distracted by alcohol will suffer many things, but so will his family and those he works with. The woman who takes her eyes off Jesus and is distracted by lust so as to be caught up in an affair will suffer shame, but great harm is also done to her husband and her children. Make no mistake, we must lay aside all dangerous distractions in our lives and fix our eyes on Jesus. Then, and only then, can we avoid spiritual ruin & stay the course on the straight and narrow path. 

Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. Tune in, Tuesday-Friday’s, as a new podcast episode will be uploaded each day. Also, be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Set Your Mind Above podcast for future announcements and weekly video sessions that are uploaded on Saturdays. As you have the opportunity, share these thoughts with your friends and family, and share with me what important lessons you are learning from every day, ordinary events. Until next time know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above.