.jpg)
Tapping their feet nervously,
three men stood in line, each awaiting an interview
for a highly paid job during a time of severe
economic recession. Finally, seated before the
interviewer, the first man was posed this question.
“You are being
interviewed for the position of truck driver on the
most dangerous road in the world, the 43-mile-long
Unduavi-Yolosa Highway in Bolivia. On one side, the
road clings to the cliffs of the Andes Mountains; on
the other side there is a precipice with a 1600 foot
plunge to the ravine below. There are no guard rails
at all; only crosses placed by grieving relatives of
the thousands who have plunged to their deaths since
the highway was built 60 years ago. Would your
normal driving habits permit you to drive at the
edge of the road next to the precipice, or in the
middle of the road, or snugly against the mountain?”
The first man answered without hesitation.
“I could easily drive right along the edge. I’m a
skilled and confident driver and I’ve never had a
wreck. I’m not afraid of anything and I’m willing to
take risks to get the truck to its destination on
time. I’m your man. ”
The second man responded, “I would stay in the
middle of the road because I feel safest there. You
can always count on me to arrive safely.”
The third man replied, “I would stay as far from the
edge of the precipice as possible to protect myself,
the truck and its cargo. I would not drive in the
middle because I could get hit from trucks coming
from both directions. I would seek the safest place
possible and that would be driving snugly against
the mountain.”
His answer won him the job.
This is also the best answer for our walk with
Christ as we face a New Year. Unlike the first man,
we should remember there is danger in taking risks
with the imminent threat of falling deeply into an
abyss the enemy of our souls has prepared for us.
Flirting with temptation has led many Christians off
the road resulting in serious injury to their faith
and their testimonies, affecting not only themselves
but their families as well.
Unlike the second man, we should not compromise our
faith and judgment by assuming a middle of the road
stance, never taking a firm stand on our beliefs but
fruitlessly carving out a road that accommodates all
positions, thereby offending no one.
Rather, like the third man who responded, we should
cling to the security of the mountain, acknowledging
our complete dependence on the God of the mountain
to keep us safe and secure in our faith til we reach
our final destination: heaven.
We can trust Him to be our rock and our shield in
this New Year.
“Thou wilt show me the road of life: in thy presence
is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11)
Mariane Holbrook
http://www.marianholbrook.com
Mariane Holbrook is a retired
teacher, an author of two books, a musician and
artist. She lives with her husband on coastal North
Carolina. She maintains a personal website
http://www.marianholbrook.com
and welcomes your Emails at
Mariane777@bellsouth.net.
Share
This With A Friend
.jpg)
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)