by Rev. Benjamin Chung
I often notice many people drive around with a deflated/flat tire. Now, I don't go driving around to be a Good Samaritan, but I have stopped for many motorists that have needed help. With respect to deflated tires, many times the drivers are unaware their tire is deflated, often to a serious level. If the deflation is noticeable to the naked eye, that means the deflated tire could be severely damaged from under-
inflation and continued usage. When I come across such cars I will try to flag the driver down by honking and flash my headlights. But many times they just drive on their merry way, unaware that I am even trying to get their attention. Surprisingly, the last time I saw a woman driving with a flat tire, I did get her attention. (All the more surprising because she had a little dog sitting on her lap. Distraction, perhaps?) What's more surprising is how when I told her of her deflated tire, she stated that she saw the light but didn't think it was that serious. Yes, it is serious.
Seeing this happen so often, it reminds me of how the lost of this world are doing the same thing. They believe they are doing fine and continue driving merrily along in life. Even though there are reminders and warning signs on their car’s instrument cluster, they choose to ignore the clear warning signs. “It’s not that bad,” they think. “I’ll take care of it later,” they say.
As believers, this is our responsibility—to tell people of Jesus’s love and the path that leads to destruction if they choose not to receive Jesus as Lord of their lives. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-4, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”.
Praise the Lord that you are seeking to follow Him. Continue to do so and do not relax for a moment because there are many lights on our instrument panel. And pray for those who are not aware of their dire straits. Even though there are many other motorists on the road, God may have put you there to warn them or even stop to assist them. “Behold, upon the mountain, the feet of him who brings good news” (Nahum 1:15a). May we encourage one another to proclaim the good news of Jesus far and wide!
Translation:
我經常留意到很多人駕著一部有漏氣輪胎的車。現在我巳經不會四處開車去做個好撒瑪利亞人，然而我的確曾經多次為許多需要幫助的駕駛者而停車。對於漏氣的輪胎，很多時候駕駛者都沒有意識到他們的輪胎在漏氣，並且以經達至嚴重的景況。如果肉眼都已可以看到漏氣，則意味著輪胎可能巳因充氣不足以及持續使用而受到了嚴重的勞損。當我遇到這樣的汽車時，我會嘗試透過響鳴喇叭和閃亮我的車頭燈來提醒那位駕駛者。但很多時候，他們只是自得其樂地駕駛著，根本沒有意識到我在試圖引起他們的注意。出人意外地，上次我看到一個女人開著漏氣輪胎的車，而我竟然引起了她的注意。（而令人更驚訝的是，她一邊駕車一邊有隻小狗坐在她的腿上。也許是分心？）令人驚奇的是，當我告訴她她的輪胎漏氣時，她說她已經看到了警示燈，但並不覺得那警告是那麼嚴重。事實上是巳很嚴重了。
我經常會看到這種事情發生，漏氣輪胎讓我想起這個世上很多的失喪者都是做著同樣的事情。他們相信自己已經做得很好，繼續快快樂樂地自顧自地在開著生命的車子。即使他們車子儀表上有提醒和警告的提示，他們會選擇去忽略那些明顯的警示。「這不是那麼差啊。」他們認為。「我稍後才處理它，」他們會這樣說。
作為信徒，我們的責任是要告訴人有關耶穌的愛，並且如果他們選擇不接受耶穌為他們生命的主他們就會走向導致滅亡的道路。耶穌在馬太福音7：13-14中告訴我們「你們要進窄門。因為引到滅亡，那門是寬的，路是大的，進去的人也多；引到永生，那門是窄的，路是小的，找著的人也少。」
讚美主! 你在跟隨著祂。繼續這樣做吧，不要放鬆啊，因為人生的警示板上有許多燈是可以亮起來的。也要為那些不知道自己巳經陷入險境的人祈禱。雖然生命路上還有很多其他的駕駛者，上帝可能就是把你帶到一些人面前作出警告，並要你停下來幫助他們。那鴻書1:15說「看哪，有報好信傳平安之人的腳登山」讓我們彼此鼓勵，一同傳揚耶穌的福音到遠方!
