Need I Say More?

Joy and jubilation changed to death and destruction in the blink of an eye on a two lane highway near Concan, Texas this past Wednesday. Fourteen souls of the New Braunfels, Texas First Baptist Church were returning home from a three-day retreat when their bus was hit head-on by a pick-up truck. Upon hearing the tragic news I instantly related my thoughts with what was probably going on within the confines of that bus in the nine miles they had traveled just before the crash. Spending days with brothers and sisters in Christ, praising the Lord and studying God’s Word, planning and developing strategies for church growth or whatever they were doing at that retreat, most likely had brought them all to a crescendo of spiritual awareness and anticipation of doing more in their individual lives to glorify God. Folks tend to say it’s like getting your batteries recharged. But, that bus full of spiritual joy was still in the world. Coming in the opposite direction was a young man driving a one ton, dually pick-up, swerving right then left, leaving the guides of his driving lane, as seen in video recorded by witnesses, who also dialed 911 to report the radical driving several times. Although not as yet a confirmed fact as to the cause of the crash, the driver supposedly confessed to witnesses first on the scene that he had been texting on his phone. Twelve people on the bus, minding their own business, died at the scene and one more passed away at the hospital. I reserve my thoughts as to who, what or why, but ask you to pray for everyone involved and especially for the young man, twenty-years-old, who will have to live with his decision the rest of his life.

When I used to smoke cigarettes health officials warned of health issues related to smoking and I quit, fifteen years later. I knew seatbelts saved lives but didn’t use them until the law said I had to or get fined. Like most people I don’t like to be told what to do. As an adult and overall responsible and trustworthy, I should not have to be forced to comply to any command or request of anyone walking the face of this earth. If and when I comply or fulfill any request, it is because I have chosen to do so of my own free will. I believe that can be said of most people. Life and lifestyles are forever changing and in magnitude the dangers of life are seemingly increasing right along with those changes. We’ve been told for several years now that texting and driving, total distraction from actually driving a vehicle, is killing people on our highways. Need I say any more?

[James 4:13-17] “...What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Although we still live, breathe, and walk the earth we have the option to make the choice weather or not to obey the Gospel. There will be a day when that option no longer exists. “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not know what will happen tomorrow.” The senior souls on that bus aged from 61 to 87 and none of them had any idea that Wednesday might be their last day on earth.  “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” Today is the only day that we can freely and willingly submit ourselves to His rule and authority in obedience to the Gospel. Tomorrow we may not have that option. Our sin, or disobedience to God’s authority and/or His appointed authorities, has separated us from God. Jesus Christ, the God man (1 Timothy 3:16) offered himself the sacrifice to God for the sins of the world that we may be forgiven for our sins. Now is the day of your salvation. Need I say more?