Almost Possumed

I almost ran into two possums on my way home last night. It was late, and it was dark, and they were just hard to see. It wasn’t like I avoided running into them simply because I was careful and swerved. I honestly was just lucky. If I had been driving just a little bit faster I’m sure the story this morning would be a little more distressing.

But possums they were, of that I am sure. No, they weren’t skunks, and I know they weren’t cats. Believe it or not, I’ve actually run over a possum several years ago on interstate 90 down by the Sears tower and survived.

Fact is, I know what a possum looks like. And I almost ran into two of them yesterday.

I was spared not because I saw them, but just because I was lucky. I hadn’t expected them. I was surprised to see them. And I almost ran into them.

Does sin ever take you by surprise that way? You don’t see it coming. You don’t even have time to swerve and avoid the crash. Sometimes you just hit it head on. Other times, you just get lucky and miss. And when you miss, sometimes you realize what a close call that was, other times, well, you just miss.

II Corinthians 10:3-6 has something to say about this. Paul makes this statement:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

Here are some tips to avoid the possums in your life:

1. Be alert. It’s not always as safe as it seems. Possums will come out of nowhere. Be ready for them, expect them.

2. Be prepared. The possums will come. Have your avoidance strategy in place ahead of time. What will you do when you see a possum? Think through it. Predict where they will show up, and when it’s hardest for you to see them. Be prepared!

3. Be strong. Even though the best strategy is the avoidance one, you do have what it takes to fight the possums. Don’t forget that. If you end up hitting one, clean up the mess, get your foot back on the pedal and keep going.

4. Be complete. There is no room for error. You cannot be lenient or soft. Every little possum matters. Every little hair is a sign of the possum’s coming. You cannot give the possum an inch to breathe. Even the smell of the possum must be obliterated.

There is no reason for you to crash and burn in sin today. Expect sin to come. Be prepared to run. If you fall, get back up. Ask forgiveness, and set up measures in your life to change so that you do not accommodate a sinful lifestyle. And above all, do not give room for even an iota of sinful desire in your life.

Every thought must be taken captive. Every imagination that is against Godliness must be destroyed.

No more excuses. You don’t always get lucky and miss.

And remember this: better almost possumed than completely pummeled by one!

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