"You Can't Fight The Traffic!"

For most of the past 40 years I have had the distinct privilege or curse (depending on the point of view) to travel each day to a far-flung location, miles apart from the place where I lived. Doing so, I had to amuse myself in some manner for, at least, two hours each day…minimum. I would ride along, in the rush hour traffic, listening to the radio or a tape or CD, but I noticed the traffic. At times there'd be at least one driver who was just bound to be in front of all the traffic…you know…the first car in line.

Each morning I would leave a location near Gallatin, on my way to a destination on Harding Road, Green Hills, Brentwood, Franklin, etc. Invariably, there would be a driver who wanted to be in the lead, so they would "fight" the traffic; darting in and out of lanes, pouring on the gas, slamming on the brakes, sometimes wedging their automobile into spaces in which it would scarcely fit. They would scare small animals and frighten old ladies (and yours truly) with their extreme driving techniques. It was always noteworthy, that by the time we would approach Trinity Lane, that imbecile would not have left my sight. I'm just tooling along, watching the scenery, enjoying the music, laughing at him (or her) who is working overtime to win against an unbeatable foe.

Well… I suppose that I've spent too many hours of my life in the traffic, but I have learned some lessons and composed several sermons from the observations made there. There are some things in life that we simply cannot defeat and it is more profitable to work with them, not against them.
We have, however, some enemies that we can defeat.

One of the greatest enemies to a successful and abundant life is Satan and the trials and temptations that he can fling at us. James says that we can "resist the devil" and he will leave us alone. (James 4:7) He says that we can "draw near to God and He will draw near to us." (James 4:8) He says that in resisting the devil our faith and our strength will be increased. (James 1:2-3)

Let's set our mind to do these two things and everything else will work out for us. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)