Among the many skills I have not mastered is the driving of a
semi-truck. Indeed, I am awed when I see those knights-of-the-roads
squeeze their vehicle through narrow alleys, back them into unforgiving
spaces, and navigate around drivers, who are far less wise in some of
the decisions they make. Yes, these drivers are a special group of men
and women.
Unfortunately, 23-year-old Mary Lambright is not one
of them.
Let me explain. Lambright was driving her 30-ton truck
in Paoli, Indiana. The vehicle was loaded with 43,000 pounds of water
and was destined for the local Wal-Mart. Everything was going well until
she missed her exit.
She tried to turn around in a nearby parking
lot, but was unable to do so because the lot was filled with heavy-duty
machinery. Not wishing to be conquered by adversity, Lambright looked
for an alternative route. That was when she remembered a lesser-traveled
road she had previously driven in her pickup.
It was a pretty
fine idea: an almost brilliant thought. The only flaw in the plan was a
bridge:
* a bridge with a six-ton limit,
* a bridge which
was clearly marked with a sign which read "No Semis,"
* a bridge
which had a rather low ceiling.
It was that bridge which became
Lambright's Waterloo. As she drove on to the bridge, it peeled the top
of her truck like a sardine can. The damage did not continue as room was
made for the truck's roof when the bridge collapsed underneath the
vehicle. She escaped without injury, except that which was given to her
pride ... and the police charges of "reckless operation of a
tractor-trailer, disregarding a traffic control device, and driving
overweight on a posted bridge."
Spiritually speaking there are a
lot of folks who ignore the Lord's posted signs. He has clearly told us
that if we want to be saved, we need to "believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ." He has told us that salvation comes only through Holy
Spirit-given faith in the Redeemer. But they ignore those warnings the
Lord has given and think they can get into heaven by an alternate route.
They think they are going to pass through the pearly gates fully loaded
with their tractor-trailer souls full of sin.
Well, it doesn't
work that way, and because it doesn't work that way, you and I need to
do our best to flag them down and let them know they need to believe on
the Savior for salvation.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, let me do my
best to warn all those who are ignoring Your Word and the eternal life
Jesus has won for them in His life, death and resurrection. This I ask
in the Savior's Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken
Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
