Dangerous Distractions
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 3,000 people are killed annually due to distractions while driving. Much of this is attributed to cell phone use, but distractions also include eating in the car, adjusting the radio, and even readjusting the rear-view mirror. In 2019, a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery found that injuries caused by pedestrians walking, while looking at their cell phones, had drastically risen over the years. I am confident this statistic has not decreased since then. It would be shocking to see how many accidents and deaths could actually be prevented if people simply paid attention. With the advent of AI, the push for more immersive technology, and the spread of social media, this generation could be summed up in one word: distracted.
Of course, when it comes to believers in Christ, the devil would love nothing more than to distract them from focusing on the kingdom of heaven and the call to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The apostle Peter warned Christians in 1 Peter 5:9, “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (HCSB). Christians must understand how vital it is to walk with eternity in sight. We cannot get caught up in the possessions and prestige of this world— which are nothing more than fool's gold—and forget that a far greater inheritance is laid up for the faithful in Christ.
Peter used a vivid image of looming danger to emphasize the importance of believers standing firm in the faith. In 2020, when COVID-19 began spreading across the U.S., I was amazed at the great lengths people went to in order to supposedly flatten the curve and stop the spread. Though it was clear that it was a lost cause, I had never seen people so vigilant. Why? Because they feared the spread of a deadly virus. Though COVID itself was invisible to the naked eye, its harmful effects on the body were evident. Well, Christian, you may not see Satan in physical form, but you can certainly see the effects of sin and the devastation caused by his deception. Don’t get distracted. Pay attention, and realize how vital it is to remain vigilant in this dark world.
