A Sticky Situation
This morning at a traffic light I admit it, I gave into temptation. I read the bumper sticker on the vehicle that was sitting in front of me. You know all about bumper stickers I am sure. Some are stupid, some are funny, and some are unfit for the human eye to look upon. That is why I try to avoid reading them. That is why I call them a temptation. Some of these bumper stickers do indeed represent worthy causes. Some make important statements. Some let you know what one's beliefs are, some let you know that someone’s beliefs need to change dramatically. There are a few out there that make you afraid to be sitting behind the vehicle that has the person in it that stuck the sticker on the bumper in the first place. Some simply state that they have an honor student somewhere. There are the ones that say, "Ask me about my grandchildren". I have thought about getting out, tapping on the driver's window and asking, "What about those grandkids?”
I am sure I would never have the chance to ask. They would call 911 on their cell phone so fast I would probably be arrested for attempted car-jacking or something. We can't leave out the ones that say, “Follow me to...”. I have seen some saying follow me to a certain church. Let me tell you some of those pull in at places that certainly are not churches. I think my favorite is the don't laugh it's paid for ones. I always wish I had one of those instead of a car payment. I've said enough, probably too much, about the different varieties.
I will get back to the one that really got me thinking this morning. There was a big, black. muddy 4x4 pickup truck with very loud music booming from the speakers. There were a lot of words that I could understand that I wish I couldn't have understood. The driver threw one cigarette out the window and immediately lit another. I think it was a cigarette anyway. On his sticker I read "If you can read this you are too close". I thought well I certainly am! I had to let those ugly human thoughts go for a moment and look at this bumper sticker and this person from God's point of view. I didn't know what kind of life style this guy led, but just guessing it didn't appear very Christ-like. Verses started coming to mind about being close.
Proverbs 18:24 there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
(or even a bumper sticker).
Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.
Of course I didn't get out and share these verses but I did stretch my hand his way and pray the verses over him. Hey, I knew it couldn't hurt. If he didn't need those verses prayed over him I certainly needed them myself.
Remember God loves you and all those people in all those vehicles with all the bumper stickers-the stupid bumper stickers, the unkind bumper stickers, the black, white, red, and yellow bumper stickers. He loves all those with pretty ones, with ugly ones, those that show love and those that show hate. God is drawing all those people to Him.
John 12:32 And if I be lifted from the earth I will draw all men unto me.
His love for them is everlasting.
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
The next time your eyes wander to a bumper sticker, think about what God thinks of the sticker and of the person who stuck the sticker. Be careful what you think of others. God's fingerprints are stuck on every one of them.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them.
And you can also remember be careful where your eyes wander.
I John 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.
By Judy Parker
October 21, 2003
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