· Do NOT ride in automobiles: they cause 20% of all fatal accidents.

· Do NOT stay home: 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

· Do NOT walk on the streets or sidewalks: 14% of all accidents happen to pedestrians.

· Do NOT travel by air, rail, or water: 16% of all accidents happen on these.

· Only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are related to previous physical disorders.

Therefore, the safest place for us to be at any time is church.  Bible study is safe, too.  The percentage of harm there is even less.  And yet, how much time, money, and effort do we give to hazardous activities?

Spiritually, the world conditions us to go to our enemy in order to have our needs met.  Almost without thinking we engage ourselves in activities and addictions that never satisfy.

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  Contrast this offer with the kinds of vacations and recreation we pursue which only leave us wanting more.

Jesus said, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).  Contrast this offer with our pursuit of security through investments and material things which end up adding even more stress to our lives.

Jesus applied the promise given to Isaiah to Himself, saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor.  He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden” (Luke 4:18).

With all that Jesus offers us, the greatest of which is a personal saving relationship with God, why then do we continually allow Satan to distract us with what can never fulfill, never satisfy, never bring healing, never save, and ultimately will lead us to destruction?  When we come up against the stuff of the world, which is tearing us apart, why do we turn to the world for our answers?

May we learn to go to Jesus when we are struggling with the issues which surround us.  That choice can be as simple as purposing to not go to the world for our answers.  It can be a prayer, “Lord Jesus help me.”   It can be the lifelong adventure of learning to listen to Him as He guides your life.