The Danger of Distraction
The Danger of Distractions
Luke 21-24
“But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The number one cause of car accidents is not reckless driving (4th), drunk driving (3rd), or even speeding (2nd). For most, these are the three things we are most careful to avoid. However, the #1 cause of accidents is something we are all guilty of doing almost every time we get behind the wheel. The #1 cause of accidents is distracted driving: answering a phone call, checking a text message, fiddling with the radio, turning our head to talk to someone behind us, and the list goes on. A person who would never dream of breaking the law regarding drunk driving or reckless driving can easily fall into the greatest trap of all: just being distracted!
The same can be true of our spiritual lives. We would never dream of committing one of the “big” sins. We would not be tempted to break our marriage vows, attack someone, or even gossip about them. Yet we can easily become distracted in our spiritual lives. We get caught up in the affairs of the day to the point that God gets pushed aside. It is not that we don’t believe in God or reject his word; we just lose sight of him and his purpose for us as we get caught up in the doldrums of life.
In the final week before his ascent to the cross, Jesus opens the veil of the future and reveals the future to the disciples (and to us). With a troubling warning, he foretells a time when people will turn against him and his followers. It is a time when fear can easily paralyze us in our faith. However, he gives us the assurance that he will watch over and protect us so that not even a “hair of your head will perish” (21:18). The basis of hope and our confidence is not the freedom from adversity, but the assurance of God’s protective care and his watchful eye in the midst of the adversity we face. However, we cannot become complacent in our faith. Adversity and trials test our faith and trust in God. But even more dangerous is when life seems to be going well and we are not facing any struggles, for then we let our spiritual guard down.
In light of the threats to our faith, both internal through complacency and external in adversity, we need to remain vigilant. The command “Be alert” suggests both the ongoing nature of the threat as well as the ongoing temptation to become complacent. Instead, we need to be constantly vigilant, guarding our soul from the danger of spiritual neglect. We become complacent when we no longer are reading our bible, spending time in prayer, and being faithful in fellowship.
Protecting ourselves from spiritual complacency and distraction begins with recognizing the danger. Conduct a spiritual assessment of your spiritual health: Are you guarding your soul against the infiltration of spiritual apathy? Are we allowing the busyness of the day to distract us from seeking God? It is not that we reject God or deliberately rebel against him; it is that we lose sight of him as the activities of the day push him into the background.
Luke 21-24
“But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The number one cause of car accidents is not reckless driving (4th), drunk driving (3rd), or even speeding (2nd). For most, these are the three things we are most careful to avoid. However, the #1 cause of accidents is something we are all guilty of doing almost every time we get behind the wheel. The #1 cause of accidents is distracted driving: answering a phone call, checking a text message, fiddling with the radio, turning our head to talk to someone behind us, and the list goes on. A person who would never dream of breaking the law regarding drunk driving or reckless driving can easily fall into the greatest trap of all: just being distracted!
The same can be true of our spiritual lives. We would never dream of committing one of the “big” sins. We would not be tempted to break our marriage vows, attack someone, or even gossip about them. Yet we can easily become distracted in our spiritual lives. We get caught up in the affairs of the day to the point that God gets pushed aside. It is not that we don’t believe in God or reject his word; we just lose sight of him and his purpose for us as we get caught up in the doldrums of life.
In the final week before his ascent to the cross, Jesus opens the veil of the future and reveals the future to the disciples (and to us). With a troubling warning, he foretells a time when people will turn against him and his followers. It is a time when fear can easily paralyze us in our faith. However, he gives us the assurance that he will watch over and protect us so that not even a “hair of your head will perish” (21:18). The basis of hope and our confidence is not the freedom from adversity, but the assurance of God’s protective care and his watchful eye in the midst of the adversity we face. However, we cannot become complacent in our faith. Adversity and trials test our faith and trust in God. But even more dangerous is when life seems to be going well and we are not facing any struggles, for then we let our spiritual guard down.
In light of the threats to our faith, both internal through complacency and external in adversity, we need to remain vigilant. The command “Be alert” suggests both the ongoing nature of the threat as well as the ongoing temptation to become complacent. Instead, we need to be constantly vigilant, guarding our soul from the danger of spiritual neglect. We become complacent when we no longer are reading our bible, spending time in prayer, and being faithful in fellowship.
Protecting ourselves from spiritual complacency and distraction begins with recognizing the danger. Conduct a spiritual assessment of your spiritual health: Are you guarding your soul against the infiltration of spiritual apathy? Are we allowing the busyness of the day to distract us from seeking God? It is not that we reject God or deliberately rebel against him; it is that we lose sight of him as the activities of the day push him into the background.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
The Divine InvitationThe Audacity of Man and the Supremacy of GodWhat is your attitude towards church?When God is AfflictedAn Accident or Divine DesignWhere do we turn for truth?Listening to the Right VoiceThe Challenge of Self-AssessmentFollowing the Right LeadersHope in Dark TimesThe Greatest Hope in a Time of Darkness
June
Certainty in an Uncertain WorldSinging a Song of PraiseSeeing God in the Challenges of LifeWhen theStorm Clouds are BuildingListening to the Right MessageThe God of Grace and JusticeBecoming Tolerant of SinTrusting in God for our SecurityListening to the Right VoicesGod's Transforming PowerGod's Eternal PresenceThe One who Controls the Nations
July
Hope in times of DarknessExaming Our Life in Light of The Certainty of God's WordDevastating Judgment and Outlandish GraceOur Greatest Spiritual ThreatThe Longing of GodThe Coming Day of the LordSeeing our world through the lens of GodThe Famine of the WordThe Justice and Grace of GodThe Song of VictoryPreaching Grace In the Midst of JudgmentWhere is God in the Hardship of LifeWhen God Shouts for Joy
September
2025
January
Who do we listen to?God's Patience and the Certainty of JudgmentThe Present Implications of the FutureAcknoweldgement, Confession, and ForgivenessThe Mark of a Genuine DiscipleThe Unchanging WordThe Lost ARt of DiscernmentA Life that Pleases GodThe Subtle Danger of Spiritual PrideContending for the FaithThe Judgement of False TeachersKeep Our Faith in a Fallen WorldSecurity in a Insecure WorldThe God who Controls HistoryThe Terrifying Majesty of ChristThe Majesty of GodThe Praise of God's JusticeHaving Right Priorities in Life
February
The Autobiography of GodThe God who CreatesThe God who RecreatesThe God Who Gives Us SignificanceThe Blessing of God's PlansTrusting in the Timing and Plan of GodThe God who ProvidesGod's Sovereignty and GraceThe King of Self or the King of KingsThe Exclusive Worship of GodHas God Forgotten?The Wonder of God's Plan and TimingGod's Sovereignty and Forgiveness
Categories
no categories