Slow Down

Alive & On Time

Sara and I had a great vacation last week. You’ll hear more about it in the months to come. We visited the Creation Museum in Cincinnati, the Ark Exhibit in KY, and a few nights in Nashville.

Downtown Nashville was like a college frat party. Not our scene.

But, we found things to do there. The Andrew Jackson Mansion and Museum was good visit. 7th president.

Anyway, we got home Monday night.

The trip home was uneventful, just long. Complicating things was the time zone changes.

Cincinnati is Eastern time. We arrived the weekend of Daylight Savings Time. So, 3 hours different.

Nashville is Central time, 2 hours. Our body clocks were messed up.

We got up the usual time Monday morning, 6 am. But that’s 4 am MP time. We didn’t fly out till after 4. So we had all morning. That’s when we visited the Andrew Jackson Mansion.

Flight took off just about on time, 3 and a half hours, we landed at 6:45 in PHX.

Our kids, in Glendale, kept Jack for us. We had to go and pick him up. Hugs and kisses abounded, that’s just the dogs. They have 2.

Gassed up the car, don’t want to start up the mountain w/ anything less than a full tank. We’re on the 101 heading for I-17 at 8:30. But that’s 10:30 where we woke up that morning.

I-17 is a hard drive anytime. It is especially hard at night, in the dark. Then, tired from a day of travel made it harder.

They’ve started the big project. Now just a lot of prep work, but several times down to 1 lane thru the switch backs. That’s where the 2 new lanes are going to go.

Traffic merging. Slow trucks and fast cars all trying to get into the same space.

They were working on the southbound side, too. They had the big, bright construction lights up. Even across the distance between north and south it was like driving into another car’s high beams.

My eyes were tired. My contacts were drying out. Things were blurry anyway.

And the other cars and truck on I-17 were the usual. Trucks doing 25 mph in the right lane. Cars doing 90 in the left. All sorts in between and they were affecting what I could do.

The temptation is, I just want to get home. Hit the gas, let’s go.

Too slow and you get run over. Besides, that will put me back here well after my MP bedtime and I’m already a little too ready for bed.

Patience on I-17 is a rarity.

I could drive as fast as I want to drive. But why?

I could drive 90 or 95.

My Yukon’s got some giddy-up.

A ticket at 85 or higher is a criminal act. Not a simple speeding violation. Jail time and a fine.

High speed thru the switchbacks, in the dark, slow semis and faster cars, not quite on my game as my reflexes are fatigued.

The chance of a serious accident.

If I drove fast all the time, big trouble is inevitable. And that’s b/c my wife is sitting next to me.

I’d rather face a Trooper than her.

It’s bad enough watching out for everyone else. Accidents happen all the time and innocent ppl get caught up in them.

Why would I increase the odds of something bad happening by driving too fast myself?

It’s tempting. I want to get home! Patience is something that I don’t have a lot of when I’m so tired.

Driving is one thing. Sometimes we live our lives this way.

Life is hard enough, like driving I-17 on a typical day. We can do pretty much anything we want to do. But why would we do things that cause more trouble than we already have?

Million-dollar question. When life is already hard, why do we do things that make it harder?

We can do these things. But, why?

We get a little cranky, impatient, lose some self-control and let things fly. We may get away w/ it for a little while, but, eventually, inevitably, we cause ourselves more trouble than it’s worth.

One of the benefits of the Christian Life, a life as a follower of Jesus, is access to the wisdom to know the best thing to do in a tough situation and the ability to do it.

When we are tired and tempted, the easiest course of action is often the one that brings the most trouble. We need help from outside ourselves to do right.

Paul had just written in Colossians 2 that Jesus has all the wisdom and power and makes it available to us.

So, in light of that, what do we do w/ it?

Live Like Heaven

Colossians 3:1–4 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Since you have already died and been raided w/ Christ.

Done deal. Past tense. Saved. Follower of Jesus. Rec’d, believe in the name, all that He is.

This is not a how to be saved passage. This is a how saved ppl can live passage.

One of the things we all value is the freedom God gives us to make choices, everyday, every moment, every situ choices. We can do pretty much whatever we want to do.

There are consequences and ramifications. Taking all that into account, we can do what we want to do.

What Paul is saying here is, what you really want to do is set your mind on the way you will live in heaven. Focus your head and your heart, your thoughts and emotions on the way your life will go when you get to heaven.

Live on earth the way you will live in heaven. We can do that.

This takes self-control, self-discipline to look beyond what’s happening on earth and live as if we’re beyond it.

PPL around you will be living to their extent on earth while you’re trying to live to your extent in heaven and it can be easily distracting.

Pleasures and physical appearances; status and stuff can be ver appealing and distracting from things of greater substance.

Focus your eyes on Christ and where He is. Look past the things here. Make Jesus the center of your life, your highest priority.

He is not a friend you visit. He is the Lord you serve.

When you set your head on these things, you go where you think.

When you set your heart on these things, you do what you care about.

Paul wrote the same thing here;

2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

If we get caught up in the temporary, when they go away, so does what we thought they’d do for us.

When we set our minds on these things, it means we concentrate on them.

Like driving I-17, we have to concentrate on what we’re doing. There are a lot of things that can distract us.

Fast cars, slow trucks, lane closures and construction, bright lights, and the scenery (If you can see it).

If we allow ourselves to be distracted, we’re headed for trouble.

There are places where we need to concentrate a little more; like the switchbacks between Anthem and Sunset Pt, the descent into the Verde Valley, and what is it about mp 307?

Our firefighters are called to wrecks at 307 more than any other spot on the interstate.

When we’re tired or stressed, we don’t have it w/in us to give what needs to be given to keep us out of potential trouble.

But Jesus provides power beyond this world to help. Christ defeated all other powers, including the power that is the lack of power w/in us, to give us the ability to never have to say, “I can’t” any more.

The implications of dying w/ Christ are we have help we didn’t have before we did.

It began when we were separated from what we had before.

The term death, in the bible, means separation. We tend to think of it as the end of our life on earth. But, technically, it simply means separated.

When we died w/ Christ, we were separated from what didn’t work.

When we were raised, we were connected with what does.

Habits were broken. At least, the door was opened that gives us thew opportunity to break what had been breaking us.

Sometimes, all you need is a little opening, a foothold, to get thru what had been holding you back. A breakthrough.

Past tense. Died. Raised. Been done. At the moment of salvation the part of us that is separated from God,

Ephesians 2:1 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

That part of us that was separated from God got unplugged.

And we were plugged into what is connected to God.

1 of the little projects Jim and Tom are working on is some electrical in the kitchen.

We have 2 Bunn coffee makers. Each one, when it’s turned on, making coffee, pulls 13 amps.

I’m no electrician. I don’t even really understand this. Hopefully, I won’t insult those of you who do.

Anyway, 2 13-amp coffeemakers working at the same time pull 26 amps.

Each outlet in the kitchen only allows for 20 amps. The breakers in the breaker box connected to each outlet is a 20-amp breaker.

26 amps will work for about a minute. Then the breaker trips and the coffee stops brewing. And a church w/ out coffee is a church in trouble.

So, they put in a new outlet that allows both coffee makers to be plugged in. They work.

When we are unplugged from God and plugged into earthly things they work for us, satisfy us, for about a minute. Then the breaker trips and they don’t do what we wanted them to do.

But when we plug into Christ, he has the capacity to provide all the wisdom we need to know what to do and the ability to do it.

When we try other things, we only get more trouble.

We’re already in trouble. We don’t need more. Especially, if we don’t have any coffee. Then, we’re really in trouble.

Our lives are now hidden, concealed and secure in Christ. Just like the Ukrainians in bomb shelters. While the bombs are bursting outside, they are hidden where the Russians can’t see them and they are secure where the bombs can’t hurt them.

We are concealed and secure in Christ while the bombs go off on earth all around us.

So, at the same time we’re focused, looking upward. Living like we’re in heaven while were on earth, our eyes on Christ.

We are also looking forward to his return, when we get to go the heaven and won’t have to be concerned with the earthly things that distract us now.

In the mean time, unplug. B/C, when we’re plugged into what is separated from God inevitably and eventually we find ourselves in more trouble.

Unplug

Colossians 3:5–9 NIV

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

Therefore…What’s it therefore!

Since we died w/ Christ and were raised w/ Him, these things were done to us and for us.

Now, this is something we have to do.

Put these things to death. There’s that word again. It means, separate yourself from them.

Why?

Look at the list. All of these are sexual in nature. It was bad then. It’s worse now.

Sexual immorality. Adultery. Pornography. Not just a man’s issue any more. Many more women are getting caught up this and it alters your brain. Reality never measures up to your fantasy.

Impurity. The contamination of your character. Things that we do that cause ppl to no longer trust us. One of the characteristics of maturity is being responsible. Keeping commitments. Doing the right thing even when it’s the hard thing. Impurity is immaturity.

Lust. Giving in to uncontrolled passion. Unchecked.

Evil desires. Cravings. The first look doesn’t get you in trouble. It’s the second look and what you set your mind on next that does.

Greed. Coveting. Idolatry in that these are the things that ppl value more than God. Worship them. Worth-ship. Make sacrifices for.

Now, of this list, which of them, if you practice them on a regular basis, okay even once, will improve your life. Will reduce the trouble in your life. None of them.

They will all bring more trouble than they are worth.

You can choose to do these. But, why?!

Okay, maybe just a little bit. A little bit won’t hurt, much.

Brownies. If Sara made a batch of brownies that looked and smelled delicious. But she put a special ingredient in them.

A little dog poop. Just a little. A little doesn’t hurt, much.

Would you eat them.

It was a great lesson for our kids when they became teenagers and their friends were doing stuff that was at least a little bit bad.

Kill them. Unplug from them. Separate yourself entirely from them.

These activities don’t happen in heaven. They only happen on earth. Set your mind, your head and heart, only on the things of heaven and avoid all this trouble.

Hell is a reality.

Wrath is extreme anger. Christians never face God’s wrath. He get’s angry. He disciplines us.

Wrath is reserved for those who do not believe.

So, as a believer, don’t act like someone who isn’t.

Kill those things. Then, rid yourself of these.

The picture here is ridding yourself of old, dirty clothes.

You ever do such a dirty job that the clothes you wore aren’t even worth washing?

Often, when I stack my firewood. The shirt goes right in the trash bin.

I’ve crawled thru things, under buildings, baled hay.

The nastiest job I ever had to do was when the rancher I was working for had a small enclosed trailer that was blown over in a storm that was filled w/ fertilizer.

I had to shovel it out so he could set it upright and use it again.

Those clothes were history fast.

They are all anger related.

Chronic anger. Always ticked off at somebody. Never forgiving. Smoldering attitude.

Rage. Out of control outbursts.

Malice. Intent. Heart condition that is set on hurting ppl.

Slander. Lies that hurt.

Filthy language. Ask a sailor.

Again, which of this list, if you practice on a regular basis, okay even just once, is good for you and the ppl you care about?

You can do any of them. But, why?

They will all bring more trouble into your life than they are worth.

But, now, you have been given a new life and the opportunity to live in a different way.

Once you put these to death, gotten rid of them, unplugged from them, then plug in to Jesus and live his life w/ him.

Plug In

Colossians 3:10–11 NIV

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Put on the new self. Put on the new, clean clothes.

The new self is being renewed. Ongoing process.

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A renewed mind, constantly getting to know Jesus better. And, the better you know Him, the more you act like Him.

More wisdom and more power. It’s not that we get more. We’ve already got it. But, we unlock the potential.

This is true for everyone. There is not a race of ppl, a gender, a tribe or nationality that this is not true for.

I’ve heard ppl say, maybe you have, too; That’s good for you, if you believe that.

Like saying, b/c I believe it, it makes it true. It really doesn’t matter what you believe. Just b/c you believe something doesn’t make it true.

You can sincerely believe that the D-backs won the world Series last year. There is only one truth. The Braves won.

There is only 1 true Savior. There is only 1 God. There is 1 HS that indwells and brings a basketful of fruit w/ Him.

There is 1 Creator of the Universe who wants personal rel w/ all of us.

You can choose to do pretty much whatever you want to.

But why would you willingly choose to bring more trouble into your life?

A relationship w/ Jesus makes it possible for us to know what the best thing to do or say even in a tough sit and have the ability to do it.

Why wouldn’t we do that?

Applications

What?

If you know what not to do, and if you can know what the best thing to do is, then WHY don’t you?

If you lack wisdom, ask God for it. He gives generously.

Ask for the best thing to do for the best reason.

Hint: the best reason is not a selfish reason.

We can know what to do in our toughest situations.

How?

If you have the ability to do the right thing, even when it’s the hard thing, then WHY don’t you?

We have the same power w/in us that raised Jesus from the dead.

If it gives us a good life, it can also give us the ability to kill the bad stuff we do.

Dr., Dr, it hurts when i do this. Well, ...

Sometimes the best thing is the hardest thing. Not impossible, just hard.

Let’s do that.

Slow down

Literally, and figuratively.

Don’t drive 95 on I-17.

You’re either going to jail, going to get fined, or going to die.

Foolish.

If you know it will eventually, inevitably hurt you or the ppl you care about, slow down, stop.

What do you need to stop doing?

We can pretty much choose to do whatever we want to do. Taking into consideration the consequences, we might think the potential is worth the risk.

But if it’s foolish, and can cause a lot of trouble, Why?

We can know the best thing to do in every tough situation we face. We can do the best thing in those situations.

We know what not to do.

Why?

One of the benefits of the Christian Life, a life as a follower of Jesus, is access to the wisdom to know the best thing to do in a tough situation and the ability to do it.

When we are tired and tempted, the easiest course of action is often the one that brings the most trouble. We need help from outside ourselves to do right.