Is This My Exit?
Title: Is This My Exit?
Category: Time Issues
Subject: Emergency
Is This My Exit?
Dr. Vince Hefner, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Cherryville, North Carolina
One of the challenges of being a pastor is setting aside personal time to spend with your family. Once this goal has been achieved, the next goal is to find something to do, besides eating, that two adults and four teenagers agree on. One activity that we all enjoy is going to the movies. Yes, there are some movies that the entire family can attend without being embarrassed by the actions or language on “The Big Screen.”
I have noticed that before the movie starts a public announcement appears on the screen that says, “In Case of Emergency WALK to the nearest Exit.” I looked up the word “emergency” and the definition was “a sudden and unexpected situation requiring prompt action.” I don’t know about you, but if I’m in an emergency situation I am not going to be found strolling around to get away from whatever has caused the emergency. I realize the reason behind telling us to calmly walk to the nearest exit is keep panic down to a minimum, but if you can’t panic in an emergency, when can you panic?
This same principle is true when you fly on a plane. Before the plane taxies down the runway, the flight attendants tell you what to do in case of an emergency. They show you which door to exit, and tell you where the floating devices are located in case of an “emergency.” I don’t know about you, but I have never been worried about drowning on an airplane. I think this speech is a decoy to get my mind off the real “emergency,” such as crashing. I know how to float in water, thank you very much. I have been floating in water since I could take a bath by myself. What I am interested in is how to survive the “crash and burn” emergency. I want to know where the fire extinguishers are located, and how much of the plane is fire resistant!
The biggest variable in emergency warnings is that the actual emergency may not happen. There is a possibility that something might happen, and there is a possibility that nothing may happen. There is an element of chance in the mix. When it is all said and done, an emergency can be sudden, unexpected, and possible but not probable.
Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and those who are in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Would you consider this Scripture an “Emergency Situation?” I do not, and I will tell you why. In an emergency situation there is a possibility that what you are preparing for may not happen. This Scripture tells us about something that is going to happen; the probability of it taking place is 100 percent.
When God tells us something is going to happen, all chance has been removed, and fact has taken its place. God has granted us the chance to prepare for the time when all people will confess Jesus as Lord. As a matter of fact, I want to honor Jesus everyday in life, regardless of the emergencies that come to all of us. I am looking forward to seeing this Scripture taking place. Let’s make the most of the time God has given us to honor Him. Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!
Dr. Vince Hefner, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Cherryville, North Carolina
One of the challenges of being a pastor is setting aside personal time to spend with your family. Once this goal has been achieved, the next goal is to find something to do, besides eating, that two adults and four teenagers agree on. One activity that we all enjoy is going to the movies. Yes, there are some movies that the entire family can attend without being embarrassed by the actions or language on “The Big Screen.”
I have noticed that before the movie starts a public announcement appears on the screen that says, “In Case of Emergency WALK to the nearest Exit.” I looked up the word “emergency” and the definition was “a sudden and unexpected situation requiring prompt action.” I don’t know about you, but if I’m in an emergency situation I am not going to be found strolling around to get away from whatever has caused the emergency. I realize the reason behind telling us to calmly walk to the nearest exit is keep panic down to a minimum, but if you can’t panic in an emergency, when can you panic?
This same principle is true when you fly on a plane. Before the plane taxies down the runway, the flight attendants tell you what to do in case of an emergency. They show you which door to exit, and tell you where the floating devices are located in case of an “emergency.” I don’t know about you, but I have never been worried about drowning on an airplane. I think this speech is a decoy to get my mind off the real “emergency,” such as crashing. I know how to float in water, thank you very much. I have been floating in water since I could take a bath by myself. What I am interested in is how to survive the “crash and burn” emergency. I want to know where the fire extinguishers are located, and how much of the plane is fire resistant!
The biggest variable in emergency warnings is that the actual emergency may not happen. There is a possibility that something might happen, and there is a possibility that nothing may happen. There is an element of chance in the mix. When it is all said and done, an emergency can be sudden, unexpected, and possible but not probable.
Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and those who are in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Would you consider this Scripture an “Emergency Situation?” I do not, and I will tell you why. In an emergency situation there is a possibility that what you are preparing for may not happen. This Scripture tells us about something that is going to happen; the probability of it taking place is 100 percent.
When God tells us something is going to happen, all chance has been removed, and fact has taken its place. God has granted us the chance to prepare for the time when all people will confess Jesus as Lord. As a matter of fact, I want to honor Jesus everyday in life, regardless of the emergencies that come to all of us. I am looking forward to seeing this Scripture taking place. Let’s make the most of the time God has given us to honor Him. Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!