There was an accident, road construction, or the typical bunching up of cars at that exit.  As you saw the cars on the other side of the highway all packed in like a parking lot, you may have thought . . . .

“I am sure glad I am not on that side of the highway —  going that direction!”

Sometimes, we know that the cars on the other side will become bunched up at exit 666 as people leave the city at the end of the workday.  However, our ride into the city is really very smooth because thankfully, the “5 o’clock traffic” is going in the other direction.

“I’ll glad that I’m not in that mess.  How do people do that day after day — for years!”

As we travel the other direction, the cars on the other side of the road are becoming less and less dense, until their traffic on the other side seems much like ours — cars seemingly moving along at the speed limit– but the drivers have no idea of the slow down (or the standstill) ahead.  You know what’s ahead because you saw what was ahead for them as you were motoring the other direction!

“Those drivers on that side of the highway have no idea of what they are headed into.  It may look like the traffic is flowing unimpeded, but in a few minutes, it won’t be!

If they knew what was ahead, they would get off of that exit right about now.”

However, unless you have a GPS device that is alerting you about the present traffic patterns, you also may have no idea of what the traffic is like down the road.

Those drivers on the other side, who are also seemingly moving along at the speed limit, may be saying . . . .

“Those drivers on that side of the highway have no idea of what they are headed into.  It may look like the traffic is flowing unimpeded, but in a few minutes, it won’t be!

If they knew what was ahead, they would get off of that exit right about now.”

Slowly, more cars are showing up on the left and right of you.  The traffic is beginning to become more dense.  More red brake lights are appearing ahead.  The right lane is now quickly slowing down.  Now, the middle lane is significantly slowing down.  Now, the fast lane is bunching up.  Yep! — Maybe it’s best to take this exit because it looks like there is going to be a “car parking lot” ahead.  Ah . . . .maybe not?  Uh Oh! — this doesn’t look good.  But it’s too late . . . you just passed the exit — the last exit you could have gotten off of before becoming one of this “parking lot’s” participants!

Key Biblical Thoughts:

• temptations
• trials
• troubles
• waiting on the Lord
• direction
• the will of God
• sinful choices
• patience
• steadfastness
• warning
• the book of Proverbs
• suddenly / without warning
• warnings
• rebukes
• advice / counsel

. . . . . 

Sermonic Example: There are several distinct ways that one can use illustrative material.  This is an “analogical illustration.”

(use whatever you find useful in the above details)

Yes, unknowingly,  what we see happening with others may become our situation because we cannot see ahead any better than those on the other side of the highway.  No sure and certain GPS device alerts us to the traffic patterns ahead so that we can exit and avoid the jam up ahead.  The result is that sometimes we become one of the “parking lot” participants — at a standstill — unable to get out for a period of time. . . .