For twenty-two years on this rural five acres we didn’t have a carport. For over two decades our vehicles were at the mercy of sub-tropical sun, thunder and lightning, hail, hurricanes, and even once an inch of snow. Not a single time were the cars or trucks we owned damaged during that time.
Eight years ago we had a slab poured and a carport erected. “Whew!” we sighed with relief. “Now we’re safe.”
The next summer we were expecting guests and since the forecast called for a few showers, we moved the car out so the children would have a dry place to play. Everyone left and we went inside to clean up. When we came back outside to move the car back into the carport, a tree limb had fallen and put a dent in the trunk—a big one, and knocked off a half dollar size chunk of paint too. All those years we were concerned and careful, nothing happened. As soon as we thought we were safe, we weren’t.
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless, Proverbs 14:16. How careful are you out there in the world? Do you heed the warnings about evil companions corrupting good morals, and the Devil as a roaring lion hunting his prey (1 Cor 15:53; 1 Pet 5:9)? Or are you so confident in your own righteousness that you are careless, moving away from the safety of the “carport?”
How many times has a parent sent his child out with all the usual cautions only to have that child sigh and roll his eyes and say something like, “Yes, yes, I know,” shaking his head as he goes out the door? I don’t care how well your life has gone until now, how safe and smart you think you are, one bad decision can ruin everything for a lifetime. Keep it under the carport!
How many times has a happily married man, supremely confident of his self-control, seen someone attractive, flirted a little “just for fun,” and wound up doing exactly what he never thought he ever would? No matter how strong you think you are, don’t dally with the Devil—keep it under the carport!
How many times has a Christian stepped over the line “just this once,” “to see what I’m missing,” or “so I know what I’m up against,” meaning to return immediately to the fold, but never making that return trip because that little fling cost him his life? Life isn’t certain—keep it under the carport!
You think I’m crazy don’t you, just because a limb fell on my car. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice, Prov 12:15.
And if coming from me isn’t good enough—and really, why should it be?—then how about God? By the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil, Prov 16:6. My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments, Psa 119:120. Job said if he had done anything wrong, then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 31:22-23. If no one else can do it, then let God put the fear in you—keep it under the carport!
We wear seat belts every time because we never know when we will have an accident. We get our inoculations because we never know when we might be exposed to a disease. We have smoke alarms in our homes because we never know when a fire might break out. We do all these things because it’s common sense. So are the things God’s Word tells us about how to stay out of the clutches of sin and the Devil.
You’d better believe that from now on, my car will stay under the carport! How about your soul?
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
Dene Ward
Eight years ago we had a slab poured and a carport erected. “Whew!” we sighed with relief. “Now we’re safe.”
The next summer we were expecting guests and since the forecast called for a few showers, we moved the car out so the children would have a dry place to play. Everyone left and we went inside to clean up. When we came back outside to move the car back into the carport, a tree limb had fallen and put a dent in the trunk—a big one, and knocked off a half dollar size chunk of paint too. All those years we were concerned and careful, nothing happened. As soon as we thought we were safe, we weren’t.
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless, Proverbs 14:16. How careful are you out there in the world? Do you heed the warnings about evil companions corrupting good morals, and the Devil as a roaring lion hunting his prey (1 Cor 15:53; 1 Pet 5:9)? Or are you so confident in your own righteousness that you are careless, moving away from the safety of the “carport?”
How many times has a parent sent his child out with all the usual cautions only to have that child sigh and roll his eyes and say something like, “Yes, yes, I know,” shaking his head as he goes out the door? I don’t care how well your life has gone until now, how safe and smart you think you are, one bad decision can ruin everything for a lifetime. Keep it under the carport!
How many times has a happily married man, supremely confident of his self-control, seen someone attractive, flirted a little “just for fun,” and wound up doing exactly what he never thought he ever would? No matter how strong you think you are, don’t dally with the Devil—keep it under the carport!
How many times has a Christian stepped over the line “just this once,” “to see what I’m missing,” or “so I know what I’m up against,” meaning to return immediately to the fold, but never making that return trip because that little fling cost him his life? Life isn’t certain—keep it under the carport!
You think I’m crazy don’t you, just because a limb fell on my car. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice, Prov 12:15.
And if coming from me isn’t good enough—and really, why should it be?—then how about God? By the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil, Prov 16:6. My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments, Psa 119:120. Job said if he had done anything wrong, then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 31:22-23. If no one else can do it, then let God put the fear in you—keep it under the carport!
We wear seat belts every time because we never know when we will have an accident. We get our inoculations because we never know when we might be exposed to a disease. We have smoke alarms in our homes because we never know when a fire might break out. We do all these things because it’s common sense. So are the things God’s Word tells us about how to stay out of the clutches of sin and the Devil.
You’d better believe that from now on, my car will stay under the carport! How about your soul?
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
Dene Ward
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