Falling B_ _ _ _ _ _ _ s

My family and I enjoy reading colorful, competing neon business signs along the main thoroughfare of town whenever we happen to drive home after dark. If you were to come here this week, you could stay at the CAC_ _ _ MOTEL, eat pancakes at the KE_ _ _ _ RESTAURANT, and buy a brand new CHEV _ OLET at the local dealership.

Of course, it doesn't take much imagination to read between the lines--or burnt out bulbs--and figure out what types of businesses are trying to grab our attention, especially given the context in which the signs are presented. But think what would happen if traffic signs out on the highway were neon?

MERGE _ _ _ _T, LANE CLOSED 500 FEET

or

DANGER: L _ _ SE G _ _ _ E _ SPEED LIM _ _ _ 0 MPH STRICTLY ENFORCED

Our minds would race to try to fill in the blanks, gleaning clues from what we could see. Sadly, we could be dead wrong, especially if we resorted to taking our cues from the way people around us were driving.

It's pretty far-fetched to think of zooming along and having to interpret road signs with missing parts, and yet some people actually live out their lives in a similar sort of way. They think the Bible gives good direction generally but that it is up to the individual to try to figure out the specifics--as if there were gaps in God's guidance. In this type of reasoning, one's own logic, experience, and emotions play major roles in the decision-making process; like during the time of the Old Testament judges when everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Along these lines, Chuck Colson states, "Seventy-two percent of the American people say there is no such thing as absolute truth. Even more shocking, 67 percent of evangelicals say there is no truth, while claiming to follow the One who says He is the truth!" Surely, these statistics can only point to the major portion of our population simply not knowing what God's word has to say.

Jesus told believing Jews, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." From Genesis to Revelation, God's word is complete and relevant; it is more than sufficient for answering every question, filling in every blank, and navigating through every rocky stretch.

Otherwise, we might end up speeding through a FALLING B_ _ _ _ _ _ _ S zone, thinking we're dodging boulders, but instead, missing out on the blessings God wants to rain upon us.