Potholes can be a pain. If a car tire hits a deep one, we’re talking some serious damage. That’s why the idea of Italian engineering students Domenico Diego and Cristina Corradini is so bright—literally! The duo, noting that many potholes in Europe aren’t repaired due to lack of funding, have come up with something called the Street Safe initiative. Their creative plan calls for potholes to be painted bright yellow, an inexpensive way to help drivers avoid big pits in the pavement.
God knew the “potholes” that Solomon needed to avoid—things that could bring his kingdom down. “He had warned [him] . . . but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command” (1 Kings 11:10). Instead, the king who was known for wisdom unwisely withdrew into isolation with his “many foreign women” (1 Kings 11:1). God had warned His people against marrying such women, for “they will turn your hearts to their gods” (1 Kings 11:2; Exodus 34:12-17).
Solomon saw the potholes and still caved. And this happened even after God had warned him on three occasions to obey Him (talk about “bright yellow paint”!): “Follow Me and obey My commands” (1 Kings 3:14); “Obey all My decrees” (1 Kings 6:12); “Follow Me with integrity and godliness” (1 Kings 9:4). Turning from God to the isolation of his private pleasures and folly, Solomon chose sin, and God’s subsequent discipline resulted in his kingdom being taken from him (1 Kings 11:11).
When we turn from God—isolating ourselves from Him and godly friends— we’re headed for destruction. Sometimes we think we can cuddle with sin or keep it hidden, but God’s bright warnings can’t be avoided. Eventually, guilt will sweep over us as God brings “our secret sins” to light (Psalm 51:2, 90:8).
Don’t fall into the pothole of isolation. Open up and let God and godly friends help you repent of your secret sins.
More:
What does Hebrews 10:22 tell us about how to deal with the guilt of our sin? Read Luke 6:45 and—in the light of Jesus’ words—consider what’s hidden in your heart.
Next:
How have you been isolating yourself from God and others? What will you do to come out of isolation and walk in “integrity and godliness”? (1 Kings 9:4).
winn collier on February 28, 2011 at 12:54 am
Your word on isolation reminded me of Bonhoeffer in Life Together: “Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community.”
tom felten on February 28, 2011 at 11:09 am
Great quote, Winn. Thanks for the wisdom!
daleproulx on February 28, 2011 at 7:11 am
Thank you. I was blessed by this reflection. It is of a high quality.
tom felten on February 28, 2011 at 11:11 am
daleproulx, I’m so glad you were blessed. May God help us all deal with our hidden sins as we grow more in more in His holiness.
alegria on February 28, 2011 at 7:21 am
What an appropriate analogy to compare potholes with the sin we need to avoid in our lives. Thanks for the reminder to be ever vigilant not to pull away from the fellowship of believers and wallow in our “secret sins.” Good advice not just for me personally, but as a reminder that I need to reach out to those who are wandering close to the potholes – or stuck in them, and encourage them back into the flock.
tom felten on February 28, 2011 at 11:16 am
I like the emphasis on others that you’re pointing out, alegria. John wrote, “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). We gain fellowship with God the Father through the salvation made possible by Jesus, and our fellowship isn’t complete if it’s not happening with other believers! We can help them deal with their sin just as they help us deal with our own.
eppistle on February 28, 2011 at 7:35 am
Sometimes it seems inconsequential to drive through the potholes of sin. But every time we do, our lives get a little more out of alignment. And then someday we will look back and wonder why our lives are such a wreck. We would be wise to consider that an ounce of avoidance is worth a pound of repair.
Fortunately God does offer repair. And once we see the need of repair, we would be fools to procrastinate taking our lives in for the repair and even bigger fools to keep driving through the potholes.
tom felten on February 28, 2011 at 11:18 am
You’re right, eppistle. God does often forgiveness and a cleansing that goes far behind the best wax job we could give our cars! 1 John 1:9.
vrhorne on March 29, 2011 at 3:31 pm
When God speaks I have to stop ignoring Him!!! This message was meant for me to read and received! O how I love the Lord because He always warn us before the storms!!! I am in a spiritual warfare and God is coming to me through visions, dreams, scriptures, and friends but I continue to want to do my on thing as if God doesn’t see my wrong and only see my right but I must and will rebuke the innermy and the enemy! Thank you God for being jus and graceful God!!!
tom felten on March 29, 2011 at 5:23 pm
vrhorne, praying for you as the battle! May God give you His hope and peace and seek Him and His ways. Romans 15:13