THE PEDESTRIAN POINT OF VIEW

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“THE PEDESTRIAN POINT OF VIEW”
(2 CORINTHIANS 5: 5-7)

INTRO:
This past week I received a really cool gift. It was a new Cain. This one is 62 inches long, and has a telescoping extension, with a marshmallow tip. I’m certain that most of you have seen someone using a white cane. However, you might not know some of the history behind the blind traveler’s best friend.
The origin of the white cane can be traced back to a man by the name of James Biggs. Mr. Biggs was an artist who lived in Bristol. After he had lost his sight owing to an accident, Mr. Biggs decided that he would need some method of traveling about his neighborhood safely. One day, while walking around his home, he realized that the dark colored walking stick which he was using would be difficult for others to see. So, he had the idea to paint his stick white so that it would be more visible.
The idea finally came to the U.S. in the early 1930’s. The Lions Club began to encourage the use of the white cane as an identifier.
On October 6, 1964, a joint congressional resolution was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The resolution proclaimed October 15 as White Cane Safety Day.
Many of you have mentioned that you have spotted me walking around town with my cane. I have been using a cane since high school. In that time, I have been able to make a couple observations.
Last week, as I was walking to work, something occurred to me. It hit me that some of the same observations which I have made in regards to pedestrian travel are also applicable to our spiritual life.
Today I want us to examine these observations, and see how we can use them to help us in our Christian walk. The thing I want you to keep in mind is that just as I walk to reach my physical destinations, we are all engaged in a spiritual walk. I want to help you to see two things that, if applied, will assist you on that walk.

I. IT IS DANGEROUS OUT THERE

Let me start by pointing something out to you concerning the wording on this point. Notice I said, “It IS Dangerous Out There.” It is not a maybe, or a could be, or even a possibly: no I am telling you as a child of the living God that it is dangerous out there. As a blind person, I want to let all of you drivers know something. I’m fairly certain that I can drive better than the majority of you. I have bore witness to some of the most head scratching things while walking around different cities. I’ve seen drivers on sidewalks, cars speeding through stop signs, people ignoring the real law on making a right on red and just going whenever they want to go. Needless to say, each of these situations presents danger to pedestrians. The question which we need to ask and answer is, “What are the dangers which pedestrians face in their walk?”
The first danger which we need to address is a lack of preparedness. When I set out from the house, or work, or a store, or anywhere else, I need to be prepared. Now, some of that preparation took place years ago. As a student at the Tennessee School for the Blind, I received what is known as Orientation and Mobility training. IN layman’s terms, those who conduct this training are there to help people with disabilities learn to function independently as a mobile person. In the course of the training, we were shown how to use a cane, travel on city buses, call for taxis, and even shop with confidence in many different types of stores.
Here’s what you need to understand. Before I attended TSB, I had no clue how to function as a blind person. I was thirteen when I went there to school, and up until that point, I was perfectly happy to allow others to work for me, rather than doing things for myself. However, thanks to men such as Wayne Soben and Frank Alexander, I am now prepared for almost every conceivable situation which I will face as a blind traveler. Without that training though, the danger factor is ratcheted off the charts.
This same idea holds true for our Christian lives. When you and I step out into the world, danger is all around. Consider the fact that Paul pointed out the alarming concept that we are in a war. (Ephesians 6: 12) Think about the fact that Peter warns us to be sober and vigilant, for our enemy the Devil is looking to devour us. (1Peter 5: 8) Folks, we are walking around in a world that stands in opposition to almost everything that we believe, and everything that the Bible teaches. If we aren’t prepared to deal with what’s out there, then we will go down!
Let’s think about Paul’s words to Timothy in 2Tim 2: 15. There Paul states: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Here Paul encourages the young evangelist to prepare himself for the work which lay ahead. If Timothy wanted to be approved, then Timothy needed to be prepared.
The danger for us is that many of us simply don’t want to take the time to study, to learn, or even to listen. We won’t read for ourselves, nor will we take the time to truly listen to that which others have studied and prepared to present to us.
Brethren, if we hope to fend off part of the danger which lurks out in the world, then we must be prepared.
The second danger which exists in terms of our walk through this world is distraction. When I’m walking, I need to be totally focused on what’s going on around me. If I’m on the phone, or listening to headphones, or even daydreaming, it is the same as thumbing my nose at the danger all around me. When I take the kids with me they understand that there are certain times when they must be completely quiet. As we are crossing a street, or standing waiting on a traffic light to change, they know that I need them to be both still and quiet, so that we can be safe.
Again, this lesson is also to be seen in our spiritual life. If you and I are not focused on what’s happening around us, then we are likely to be caught up in the sin of this world. Let’s look at a couple of Biblical examples of those who became distracted by the wants, ways, and wishes of this world.
First, think about the account of Sampson. One of The last judges of Israel, Sampson is one of the more memorable figures in the Old Testament. Chosen to lead the nation of Israel out of the hands of the Philistines, Sampson was a Nazarite.
If we were to attempt to classify this man, we would find that he doesn’t fit into our mold of a “Godly Man.” During his time, he killed thousands, sought to deceive many, and displayed a nasty temper. Yet the Lord chose him to be a deliver of his people.
Sampson, a man of remarkable strength, was fine until “she” came along. The “she” in question was a woman by the name of Delilah, a Philistine. She, after prompting by the lords of the Philistines, began to strive to find out the secret of his strength. Sampson, though he tricked her a few times, eventually allowed himself to become distracted from his real goal. This of course led to his capture, disfigurement, and imprisonment. Every one of Sampson’s problems can be traced back to his lack of focus.
Secondly, I want you to notice Aaron, the brother of Moses, and the spokes person for the Lord in Egypt. From all accounts, Aaron was a good man. While in Egypt, he followed the commandments of God. He did as instructed, and served the Lord well. In my eyes, the problem really arose when Moses went up into Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.
In Exodus 32: 1, we see that the people become panicked over the fact that Moses hasn’t returned. They decide that he will not be coming back, so they go to Aaron, and insist that he make them a new god to worship. Much to our surprise, in Exodus 32: 2, Aaron agrees. He is distracted from the mission given to him by God. Moses and Aaron were to be out front, leading and setting the example for the Children of Israel. I’m not certain what distracted him. Maybe it was the fact that he was getting all the attention, or perhaps it was that he too was thinking that Moses wasn’t coming back. Regardless the reason, the fact of the matter is that he took his eyes from the goal, and fell from the path.
Folks, the same exact thing can and will happen to us if we become distracted. We are no different than Sampson and Aaron in the since that we lose our focus. There are those times in life when we simply fail to stay on task.
In fact, John warns of certain things which can and will distract us in this world. 1John 2: 16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” When we allow pride, lust, and a desire for “stuff” to distract us from that which God has told us to do, we put ourselves in serious danger. Just so we are clear, let me state for you the reason for our existence.
Ecclesiastes 12: 13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
There it is spelt out in very simple words. When you go out into this world, and the distractions start, you now know where your focus should be. We are here to serve God.
I want to encourage you to keep in mind that there is danger out there, but if you stay focused, and see to your preparation, you can overcome our enemy.

II. THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE

As I’ve already mentioned, I have been a walker for a while now. I have traveled sidewalks in Nashville, Louisville, Columbus, Minneapolis, ST. Louis, Gainesville, Orlando, Dyersburg, and the booming metropolis of Bartow Florida. With this experience to pull upon, I can tell you without hesitation that there are some really good people in this world.
I cannot count the number of times that I have in countered people who were willing to help me as I travel around. There have been those who have helped me across big roads. There have been those who have held up traffic in order to help me across. There have been those who have pulled over to offer me a ride on cold days, rainy days, hot days, and sunny days. In each of these cases, there aid and assistance has been greatly appreciated.
There are two things I want you to know concerning these good folks. The first is that there are some good people out there who are misled. There is a common problem which I face. The problem occurs when people in cars try to stop and let me go across, not understanding that when their car is running, it prevents me from hearing. Therefore I cannot decide if it is clear both ways. I appreciate them stopping, but their attempts to do good are a little misled.
I want to say something that might make a few people mad. I never like making folks mad, but I do want to help people think about their actions. Church, we have a problem. Somewhere along the way we have forgotten the admonishment found in 1Corinthians 16: 14. There we are told: “Let all your things be done with charity.” Have you noticed that when we correct someone, or attempt to help them to see the truth, that we no longer do it in a spirit of love? We do it with pride, and arrogance, and a need to be seen as spiritually superior!
Brethren, let me speak openly with you for a moment. I’m talking about those in the denominational world. I’m talking about good people, earnest people, devoted people, God-fearing people who are trying to do the right thing: but have been misinformed as to the truth of God’s word. Now, rather than going to them and offering them loving correction, we want to argue, debate, and prove to them that we are right and they are wrong.
The amazing thing is that we are given an example in scripture of how we can and should correct those good people who have been misled.
In Acts 18: 24, we find a man by the name of Apollos coming into the city of Ephesus. What I want you to see is the character description given to us of this man. Verse 24 reveals to us that he was well-spoken, and that he was “mighty in the scriptures.” Furthermore, in verse 25, Apollos is said to be instructed in the way of the Lord, fervent in spirit, and speaking and teaching diligently the things of God.
However, there was a problem. As good as he was, as diligent as he was, as fervent and devoted as he was, he didn’t know the whole truth. How do we know this? We know this because he only knew the baptism of John, not the redemptive baptism of Christ.
It is at this point where a decision had to be made. Those who knew the truth could choose to do nothing, they could choose to ridicule him, they could choose to hold a debate, or they could go to him and offer loving correction. Fortunately there were two servants of God who chose this latter option.
Aquila and Priscilla, friends of the Apostle Paul, did provide us an example for helping good people find the truth. IN verse 26, we read that they “took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” What a great example. They simply brought him in, and taught him the truth.
Folks, there are some very good people out there who just need the word taught to them more perfectly. I want to encourage you to be their Aquila and Priscilla.
Finally this morning, I want you to understand that there are also good people out here who will help you. There have been so many moments when I needed help, and help was provided in the form of a good person.
Here’s the catch. Sometimes I had to ask for that help. I have gone into stores, restaurants, churches, classes, colleges, and many other places where I did not know where to go or what to do, but when I asked someone to help me, help was provided.
We as Christians are in the same boat. We often need help, and there are those who are willing to help us. It might be help understanding the scriptures, or someone to pray with us, or a shoulder on which we can lean, or many other things. The good news is that help is there, we just need to humble ourselves and ask. Did you catch the key word? Yeah, I said you would need to humble yourself. Often we allow pride to come between us and the help we need. We would do well to remember that, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16: 18)
Let’s consider the example of Jairus. Luke 8: 40 we find Christ in a certain city, and as usual there is a crowd around him. Out of this crowd comes a man whom we would not expect to ask for help. He is a “ruler of the Synagogue.” This would indicate that he was a man who didn’t often say “I need help.” In this case, he didn’t hesitate.
We are told in Luke 8: 42 that Jairus had a daughter, and she was very sick. I want you to see what he did there in verse 41. He laid himself at Jesus’s feet, and admitted that he needed help.
I know we try to make this hard, but really it is that simple. You need to look at your life, decide what you need, and ask for the help of your brothers and sisters. After all, we are told to, “Pray one for another.” (James 5: 16)