Do You Smell Smoke?

Are we getting so multi-tasking preoccupied we can’t even think anymore? An automobile manufacturer is having a problem with the driver’s side floor-mat, weaseling its way up under the accelerator pedal, entangling itself in the works, placing the vehicle into a full throttle run-away. You noticed I didn’t say, an out of control, run-away. I can imagine the panic, while tooling down the highway in cruse control, the vehicle all of a sudden begins to accelerate for no apparent reason. You sit up taking notice of the situation, not knowing you just pushed the culprit floor-mat even further into the pedal causing the vehicle to go even faster, thinking, “…what’s happening here?” Some people simply panic and crash. Calmer heads will rationalize the cruse control is going berserk and will turn it off, thinking that will solve the problem, but it doesn’t, because the pedal is jammed to the floor, so they panic and crash. It takes a clear mind to flash forward to the ultimate solution of simply shutting off the engine to save the day. Duh!
A young and stupid pilot wanted to sound cool on the aviation frequencies. This one time he was approaching the landing field during the nighttime. Instead of making any official requests to the tower he simply said, “Guess who?” The ground controller of the field turned off the runway lights and replied, “Guess where?”
In the Victorian theater, it was not uncommon for just one actor to embrace the stage and simply quote the writings of philosophers, well-known authors or a few self-composed sonnets. Some of these actors were well known and respected for their work. Just as one such actor was about to take the stage, an employee of the theater stopped him and explained there was a fire in the building and an evacuation was in order. The actor was asked to inform the audience in a calm manor, as to not cause any panic, asking them to evacuate the building immediately. The actor presented himself before the audience, receiving a grand applause, and informed them of the impending danger urging them to proceed in an orderly manor to the exits for their safety. When he had finished there was dead silence in the theater. Then one patron stood and began to clap his hands for the performance of the actor followed by a standing ovation from the rest of the audience. Never knowing what the well-know actor might present when he took the stage, no one heard the message of impending doom, until they smelled the smoke.
[2 Peter 3] Am I so busy today, preoccupied with being politically correct and making everyone comfortable, I’ve forgotten the message? Am I so busy satisfying my physical wants and needs I’m neglecting my spiritual life? Has worship become so mundane it has become a ritual? Have I become a paid patron in the worship assembly? Have I come to worship just to see the show? Am I receiving the Word of God as an act from the pulpit, from an actor on stage? The message from the pulpit is one of doom and hope. It’s not an act! Jesus has delivered a message for all to hear. The end is near and total destruction is coming. However, there is a way of escape. Anyone can be saved from the fires of hell through obedience to God’s Word. Are you listening to what’s being preached and taking it seriously? I can guarantee you one thing. If you continue to satisfy your “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4: 1-5) and ignore the commands of God, when you smell the smoke it’s going to be too late. This run-away world cannot save you!