October 1999 Issue

Helping Others...

The Parable of
The U-Haul Truck
By Jeff Fry

When a friend of mine (the editor only knows him too well) was moving, I assisted by loading and unloading the belongings. At one point in the move, it was necessary to turn in a rental car and I was driving behind Mark, I mean my friend who was driving the U-Haul moving truck, and saw that he was about to attempt to drive a vehicle that was 11' 3" through an overpass that only had a clearance marked as 10' 6"! I began laying on the horn of the rental car and waved wildly to attempt to stop him before he had to pay for considerable damage!

Luckily, Mark stopped before crashing the truck's top into the overpass. I got out of the vehicle I was in and walked up beside his vehicle. I noticed that the height of the truck was printed in about 2 locations (2 inside the truck and 1 placed strategically on the truck so you could read it in the rear view mirror) in LARGE, bright ORANGE letters. The clearance marking was also painted in large bold letters on the overpass. There was no mistake. You can't drive a truck that is over 11 feet in height "under" an overpass that is only 10 feet 6 inches high! (I know Mark is from Alabama, but surely he was taught this in school down there!)

There are a few spiritual lessons from this earthly story. Let's look at a few.

HEED THE WARNING

He was unaware of the danger that awaited him if he didn't heed the warning. The bridge was too low for the truck to clear without incident. The horn sounded the alarm to help this brother who was in need of the warning. The accident had not happened ...yet. There was still time NOT to crash.

Colossians 2:8

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."

Would ignorance of this height difference have allowed him to be saved from this impending disaster?

Acts 17:30

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,"

Ephesians 4:18

"..having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that it in them, because of the hardening of their heart;"

What is necessary to avoid the disaster?

The warning is just preventive. The disaster still lies ahead. Let's look at a few things that might help us avoid spiritual disasters.

1) Drive by the same rules (1' for the truck = 1' for the bridge/overpass)

Matthew 15:9

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

2 Thessalonians 2:13

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

Philippians 3:16

"Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing."

Ephesians 4:1

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,"

2 Peter 1:10

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"

2) Don't deceive ourselves

2 Peter 3:17

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."

Mark 13:5-6

"And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."

Luke 21:8

"And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."

Romans 16:18

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

I Corinthians 6:9

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: ..."

I Timothy 4:1

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

3) Realize that "it" DOES APPLY to "us"

Matthew 7:15

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Mark 12:38

"And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,"

Acts 13:40

"Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;"

I Corinthians 8:9

"But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."

Galatians 5:15

"But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."

4) Watch out for our brethren

Galatians 6:1

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

What are the results when
warnings are sounded?

Do We Get Mad at the One "Blowing the Horn" at Us? I know a lot of so-called "Christians" that get extremely angry when being approached and warned that they might be about to engage in error (whether in their doctrine or their practice). These same people probably would be very happy if they were about to drive a rental truck into a low overpass and I laid on the horn to warn them to avoid the danger? Why is that? Can we see that we have our priorities reversed?

Accept and Correct

James 5:20

"Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

or...Reject and Wreck

Matthew 15:14

"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

Hebrews 3:12

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."

[EDITOR's NOTE: Thanks to Jeff Fry for the article! I can't personally thank him enough for the physical AND the spiritual warning! If you would like to contact Jeff, he can be reached at 2019 Homesite Drive, Dayton, OH 45414, or e-mail him at JEFRY74@aol.com.]

Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com