While driving through the country side or on a main highway, there are few things more important to the driver than good vision. And, it’s not just a matter of having a clean windshield or even clear glasses (if you wear them). No, there are two weather conditions that can really impede your ability to see clearly when you drive: a driving snow storm and dense fog. I have logged enough miles in a variety of automobiles down through the years which have given me the opportunity to try and stare down these visual obstacles. If I was driving at night, things could get even worse. If you have such a thing as a logical mind, it would probably tell you that the best thing to do when night driving in a blowing snow or a dense fog would be to turn on your bright lights. Your logical mind would be wrong. As any experienced driver can tell you is that the brightness from your headlights just get diffused and reflected harshly back to your eyes. Your vision becomes imperiled rather than assisted. The correct and simple thing to do is to leave your headlights on low and travel cautiously. Referring to II Corinthians 11:3 (“…the simplicity that is in Christ…), Oswald Chambers makes the following observation: Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly. A saint does not think clearly until a long time passes, but a saint ought to see clearly without any difficulty. You cannot think through spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make things clear, you must obey. (Emphasis is Chamber’s). As Christians, we sometimes think and act as if the only way to successfully navigate our Christian experience is by trial and error. Sadly, it’s usually as much error as it is trial. Just as any good state driving manual would tell you to keep your headlight on low beam when traveling in the above situations depicted, the Bible bids you follow God’s instructions and avoid any unnecessary pain as you journey through your Christian life. But unfortunately, when the blinding conditions of life hit us, we tend to stubbornly throw our own extra light on the situation, compounding matters further. If we would have just consulted our spiritual driver’s manual, we could have avoided a lot of dangerous and unnecessary white out situations. “Spiritual confusion can only be conquered by obedience.” (Chambers)

Pastor Megilligan