By E.L. Thornton

1 Tim 1:18-20
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

One vacation trip, took us up through Arkansas. “the land of opportunity”, into southern Missouri, out through Kansas, “the sunflower state”, north through Wyoming, still north to Glacier Park, in Montana, “the Big Sky Country”, back south to Wyoming to Yellowstone Park, on south into Colorado, “Colorful Colorado”, into New Mexico, “the Land of Many Uses”, then across Texas back home to Louisiana, Home.

What a trip! We saw some great country, we saw some beautiful things. I am able to remember some things we saw, the parks, Glacier Park what a site, Yellowstone Park and “Old Faithful”, abnormality. Traveling the “Million Dollar Highway”, in Colorado was a great experience, the little town of Ouray, “Little Switzerland”, is an unforgettable sight.

But what has stayed in my mind most was seeing “61” white crosses along a one hundred mile stretch of narrow, curving highway in Montana. I asked a man on the C.B. radio what they were for and his answer was this. The ‘Kawinas Club” placed them there, each time there was a car wreak causality, for the simple reason of reminded others to be careful.

Why do people kill themselves on our nations highways? The reasons are varied and many, but I shall endeavor to give you three reasons and try to relate these to us and serving God in our day.

There is a difference in the highway in Montana and this heavenly highway. This highway is a “straight way”, Notice what we read in Matt 7:13-14; 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Also notice this in Job 28:7
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
8 The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.

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I. OTHERS AT FAULT:

Many people has and will be killed because other drivers are not doing what they are suppose to be doing. Running stop signs, breaking the speed limits, not being careful, crossing the center line and many other reasons.

Some people fail in their walk with God because of others. Hurt feelings, misunderstandings, being wronged, all fit into this category. “But”, you say, “they just use that for an excuse in not living for God, If they really wanted to they could make it.” But may be not.
Rom 14:13
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
1 Cor 8:9
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

II. CARELESSNESS:

Eph 5:14-15
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Circumspectly—cautious, observant, safe, careful, watching, mindful.

There’s been many lives lost on the highways because of carelessness, and there has been many that have not been saved because they live careless.

Careless in the things they do, careless in the things they say, careless in the way they act. careless in the way they attend church services, careless in the way they have a lack of involvement in church.

“Awake thou that sleepest”, you can’t expect to know what’s going if you are sleeping through it. If you sleep going down the highway you are in danger, and you are putting others in danger. You are an influence to some one whose life you touch. They are depending on you for example, guidance, and direction. But you are asleep at the wheel. You are, and have careless in your living.

From the most remote place in America you can find a road that leads to
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“WHITE CROSSES BESIDE THE ROAD”

New York City, or to any other major city in our country. But all roads do not lead to heaven. Some foolish people like to believe that they can travel any way they please, and still reach Heaven at last. They love to imagine that they can hold to any doctrine, however false and extravagant, and still walk through
heaven’s Gates. But not true, the old song still says “Sin Can Never Enter There”, the Bible still says, Rev 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

III. INTOXICATION:

We are living in a day of over indulgence, gratifying oneself, an excess, to concern ourselves about spiritual things.

Eph 5:17-20
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

But people are intoxicated. They’re intoxicated with money, and with making money, with sex, we have been fed a diet of sex by Hollywood and advertisements until I don’t believe that our society will be able to survive. Intoxicated with pleasure, this is the most pleasure seeking society in the annals of time. Our day is unprecedented or without equal, on the pages of history for ungodliness, sin and debauchery.

Those of you that hear me now will surely stand before God and give an account for the dangerous way you have conducted you life, the way you have defiled the temple of God.

I strongly suggest to you that you get hold of the alter, wrap yourself around it and plead with God for forgiveness for your intoxication with this old
sinful world.

If you keep going the way your headed, you’re going to be a succinct.

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There are empty places of people who have become a succinct, just a white cross beside the road. It want be long, at our present rate, that our national highways will look like our National Cemetery, row after row of white crosses. But if you think that the National Cemetery has many white crosses in it, I only wish you
could see the Spiritual Death Cemetery.

Every ugly headline in today’s news paper–and yesterday’s–and tomorrow’s, is somebody’s emotions gone out of whack. You might be as smart as all get-out; but if you are emotionally intoxicated with this world, you are an unguided missile destined inevitably to self-destruct. You will be just a white cross beside the road.