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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“Traveling Far? Travel Light” |
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I. Introduction.
A. One of the things I dislike about traveling is having to pack
suitcases. But if you’re going to travel any great distance,
and be away from home any length of time, must pack
bags. Have to think about what you’ll need for the days
you will be gone. If you have to pack a suitcase, want to be
as economical as possible.B. Is a proverb of unknown origin that says: “One who travels
far must travel light.” Idea is a very simple one. The
longer the journey we must make, more important is to rid
ourselves of excess baggage; things that only weigh us
down and make journey more tiresome.C. In our life’s journey, we can be carrying an excess of
weight. Some feel they are physically overweight, but we
can also be hauling around too much emotional or spiritual
weight as well. As we travel through life, toward eternal
future, is some “weight” we must get rid of if we’re going
to successfully complete journey.1. That’s writer’s counsel in Hebrews 12:1. We’re
told to “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which
so easily ensnares us, . . .” (Hebrews 12:1).2. We’re told to shed “excess baggage”, both
emotional and spiritual. Shed not only sin, but
attitudes that hinder successful Christian living and
growth.3. Our models and examples in this are the people
spoken of in Hebrews 11 – who stand as
“witnesses” and proof that the journey to be with
God can be successfully completed – if we don’t
get too bogged down, or discouraged, or fall under
the weight of sin and emotional distress.D. We don’t have to travel through life alone, relying only on
ourselves to carry its burdens. It’s God’s desire, and will,
that we let Him help us bear our burdens. To the person
who obeys Him, God says, “. . . I will never leave you, nor
forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). What does this mean for
us? Hebrews 13:6 answers: “So that we may boldly say,
The Lord is my helper, . . .” With such help we can travel
far because we travel light.II. Our Excess Baggage.
A. What is some of the “excess baggage” we may be carrying
that God would help us bear, if we would let Him?B. Many people carry the burdens of imagined hurts, grudges,
and wrong impressions. These are emotional weights that,
if not gotten rid of, can destroy a person and possibly cause
harm to others.1. (Illust.) A small community was stunned when a
man, a good citizen of the town, was shot down one
day in his yard. No one could imagine why such a
thing would happen. The facts later revealed that he
had been a school bus driver and, years before, had
disciplined a student on his bus . . . . . . . . The
grudge the boy held had festered for years – and
resulted in the man’s death.2. Even is some offenses are real and we didn’t
deserve the treatment we got, the person who
doesn’t shake off such hatred with forgiveness may
do himself even greater harm. May just be we
attach greater significance to something than it
really merits – and, person who supposedly
“offended” us doesn’t even know there’s a
problem. We’re one who is eaten up with emotion.3. Or we can have just a “wrong impression” of
someone and our judgment is based upon this
mistaken idea.a. Look at an incident from Jesus’ life
(Mark 8:22-25; READ). Here was a case of
physical healing, restoration of physical
sight. It is done in stages probably to
strengthen this man’s faith. Bethsaida was
known as a town where belief in Jesus was
lacking (v. 26). But, believe are some
parallels to our own emotional natures.b. When man who was blind took a second
look, his sight was much clearer. Are times
when we really need to take a “second look”
at things we observe, and believe, and
examine carefully what we feel about others
and what they, supposedly, have done to us.c. Young people need to take a “second look”
at parents. Not easy being a parent. God
expects mothers and fathers to say “no” at
times; when they do, may be proof of love
rather than lack of love. Even if parents are
not perfect, and don’t always make right
decisions, or act with consistency, does not
take away from responsibility of children to
do what is right.d. Also, young people, take another look at
your teachers. Interesting that teachers who
were thought of as most strict and hard and,
at times, “unfair”, are ones often most-
appreciated in later life – by those who take
a “second look” from vantage point of
maturity.e. Parents, look again at your children. May
have needs we don’t, at first, recognize. Are
they being fed a constant diet of complaints
and negative criticism? May need to receive
some praise as well.f. How might life change if we gave a “second
look” to the church, its leaders, our wife or
husband, or our neighbors and friends?C. Another extra weight, for many, is burden of fear. There is
a healthy type of fear – but also unhealthy, abnormal kind.1. (Illust.) A newspaper story carried this headline:
“Fearful Woman Cowers In Apartment For Years.”
Article told of a woman, and her brother, who were
so afraid of darkness and possibly being attacked on
the street that they literally hid in a Boston
apartment for six (6) years. A threat of fire finally
got them out of the building. She was 73, her
brother 75. They were prisoners of the terrible
burden of fear.2. Just the opposite is what Paul proclaims in
II Timothy 1:7: “. . . God has not given us a spirit
of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound
mind.”3. When we establish relationship with God, through
His Son, we can “lay aside” the “spirit of fear” and
live with new power, courage, and hope.4. What do we usually fear? Getting bad news;
contracting a serious illness; that death will take a
close relative or friend from us. We fear natural
disasters or being a victim of a crime – all things
which are a part of this world.But, to many people, there is no thought of fear
when it comes to their spiritual condition.5. The problem is that we fear other people more
than we reverence, or “fear,” God. Proverbs 29:25:
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts
in the Lord shall be safe [secure].”6. Sometimes fear gets hold of us because we believe
God has forsaken us. But, God said He will never
do this (Hebrews 13:5). (READ underlined
portion).(Illust.) Maybe we are too much like little girl
whose mother asked her to get a broom for her.
Broom was on back porch of house and little girl
saw it was dark outside – so she wouldn’t go.
When she said she was scared, mother said: “God
is everywhere, so He is outside and will protect
you.” Little girl went to the door and leaned out
long enough to say: “God, if you’re out there, hand
me the broom.”But, to “lay aside” the weight of fear doesn’t mean
to live with reckless abandon. Our faith in God
should be combined with good judgment.(Illust.) Preacher once received a late-night call
from a man who identified himself as a salesman
and who said he’d decided he wanted to be
baptized. Asked preacher to meet him at the
building, which was near where he was staying.
Preacher said he would, but not knowing the man,
wisdom dictated that he get someone else to go with
him. Called one of the deacons and asked him if he,
too, could meet them at the building in short while
to help baptize salesman. Deacon agreed, but, then,
preacher said: “I don’t know this man. For all I
know, it could be a pretense to rob us.” Deacon
responded: “In that case, let me bring my wife,
too!” (Preacher didn’t know if he wanted her
help, in case it was a mugging, or wanted her to
share in it!).As it turned out – was legitimate request, but good
judgment required caution.D. Along with hatred, grudges, wrong impressions, and fears,
some carry a load of guilt and unforgiven sins.1. Paul says to get rid of “the sin which so easily
ensnared [beset] us.” (Hebrews 12:1).2. Sin produces guilt; sin separates us from God.
3. When sins are forgiven, then guilt is also gone.
(Analogy of a “full pardon.”) New Testament
expresses joy that should accompany salvation.a. (Luke 15:7): “. . . joy in heaven over one
sinner who repents, . . .”b. (Acts 8:39): When he was baptized,
Ethiopian: “. . . went on his way rejoicing”.4. Why do so many carry burden of unforgiven sins
when God is willing, and His grace is sufficient, to
save them?5. Be convinced of God’s forgiveness and let go of the
burden of guilt that sin brings.III. Conclusion.
A. We are all on a journey – a journey to eternity. We are
only travelers in this life. (see Hebrews 11:13; READ).B. Since we are traveling far – we should and must travel
light.C. God can, and will, lift our loads and Christ can, and will,
give us a yoke that rests easy upon us. Lay aside all your
extra weight; lay aside sin now and travel lighter to a
heavenly home.