"I don't like these cold, precise, perfect people, who, in order not to speak wrong, never speak at all, and in order not to do wrong, never do anything."
-Henry Ward Beecher
"Hasten slowly."
-Augustus Caesar
-Proverbs 22:3 NLT
All through history and in all civilizations there are quotes and sayings to remind us of being cautious:
A Malay proverbs advises, "Just because the river is quiet, don't think the crocodiles have left."
The Persians warn, "He who wants the rose must respect the thorn."
"No one tests the depth of a river with both feet," warns an African proverb.
And let's not forget warnings such as, "Lock the stable before the steed is stolen," and "Try the ice before you venture on it."
Now you've got to take a good look at this whole proverb to understand that it is not teaching us to go through life without taking risks. It's not saying that at all. Look at the people God used in the Scriptures who took overwhelming risks: Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Noah building a boat, David facing Goliath, Gideon hiding from the Midianites, Elijah praying down fire, Rahab hiding the Jews from the enemy, Ruth lying down by Boaz's feet, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, Jonah when he got his bearings right, Joseph and Mary, the twelve disciples, Paul, and a long list of others you can find in Hebrews 11.
These were not simpletons who went blindly through life, these were men and women who counted the cost and trusted God, even to the death: "But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world . . ." Hebrews 11:35-38).
These heroes of the faith foresaw the danger ahead and took precautions. That's why they're heroes! Their trust was in God and even though death was a possibility they decided they would rather die with him than live without him.
On the other hand there are those who chose otherwise: the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus and back to his riches; most of the Pharisees lived legalistically within an arm's length of the Truth that would set them free; Pilate found Jesus not guilty but turned him over to be crucified anyway; and appropriately found in John 6:66, "At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him." These are the simpletons who go blindly on their way and suffer the consequences.
They remind me of the Indiana man who, in 1996, was using his cigarette lighter to check the barrel of his rifle when it discharged and he suffered the consequences. The police said he was cleaning his muzzle-loader because it had been misfiring. He was using the lighter to look into the barrel when the gunpowder ignited, killing him. Once again, these are the simpletons who go blindly on their way and suffer the consequences.
With eternity in mind, there are those who know about Jesus and even serve him but do not know him. John said, "I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Why do some people chose to go blindly through life and suffer the consequences?
On May 9, 1980, Margaret, Sarah, Carey, and I still lived in Clearwater, Florida. I clearly remember waking up that morning to hear on the news that The Sunshine Skyway Bridge connecting Pinellas and Manatee Counties had been hit by a ship and one span had collapsed. I remember hearing about the yellow Buick that slid to a stop fourteen inches from the remaining end of the bridge surface. I was told that the men in that car immediately got out of their car, climbed to safety, and began waving their arms to stop other vehicles with passengers headed to certain death. These men saw the danger ahead, took precautions, and now were warning others. Hopefully, there were no simpletons on the bridge that day who avoided the warnings and went blindly over the edge.
The world is full of simpletons today who are headed headlong into eternity without any hope. We who know Jesus have taken the necessary precautions and are safe and secure. What about them? Some will heed the warnings and some will not. We cannot make their choices and stop their cars but we can show them the Way.
Jesus said, "I am the Way . . ."
We know the Way!
Let's show it!
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