I was on my way home from work last week and had just
rounded the curve on the interstate when I saw it happen.
A truck pulled out in front of a car, the car swerves; then
the truck swerves, sending the car into a tailspin into the median.
“Oh, no”, I think, “I hope everyone is ok.”
Then, as I watch the car come to rest in the median, I
realize the truck is not stopping. No brake lights, no hesitation. Off he
speeds, never stopping to check on the driver of the car.
I am dumbfounded.
For a split second, I think about chasing him to get a tag
number, but then I realize that I really need to stop and make sure the person
in the car is not injured. He is not, but he is quite upset.
I stay with him, waiting for the police to arrive and think
to myself, “What kind of person just drives off after causing an accident that
has obviously seriously damaged a car and perhaps another person?”
Initially I began to think about how easily you and I can be
the victims of Satan’s hit-and-run schemes and I thought I would write about
that…..and perhaps I shall, at some point. But the Holy Spirit would not allow
me to walk away from the possibility that I have been the PERPETRATOR of a
hit-and-run scheme. Not with my vehicle, but with my tongue.
James, the brother of Jesus, had something to say about the
tongue. In James 3: 5-8 (NLT) he says:
“In the same way, the tongue is a small
thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on
fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness,
corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set
on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles,
and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of
deadly poison.”
How often have I spoken careless words and then walked off,
leaving another person damaged and hurting? Hit-and-run.
How often have I gossiped about another person; contributing
to the rumor mill and injuring another? Hit-and-run.
How often have I shared something with someone that another
shared with me in confidence? Hit-and-run.
How often have I told a lie to another person—even a ‘little
white lie’—and then had to tell another and another to cover up the first?
Lies destroy trust. Hit-and-run.
My desire is to build others up with my words, not to
destroy. All too often our words are careless and thoughtless.
Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us be more aware of our words so we are not perpetrators of a
hit-and-run that leaves a trail of destruction.
