Are you a Rubberneck Christian?

Not redneck…rubberneck Christians.
Video about Distractions to begin with.
A few years ago, I was blessed to have a Kicker join our College football team from the state of California. In conversation one time he brought up the problem with rubberneckers in CA (don’t ask me how that conversation came up). That was the first I’d heard of the term. He explained that when an accident happens on the freeway that it’s almost guaranteed that another accident will happen just shortly thereafter. Why? Because some drivers want a peek at the accident, take their eyes off the road, and find themselves running into the car in front of them. The one looking at the previous accident and causing another accident is the one considered to be a rubbernecker. This conversation greatly benefited me. I recall a few years later my family and I were driving in CA, on the busy freeway, and there was an accident ahead. I did all I could to allow my family to relay to me what they saw, but at the same time keeping my eyes straight ahead. Just as we’d passed the accident we heard another vehicle coming up on our left side way too fast and they ended up rear-ending the car in front of them. Their curiosity caused them to look at the other accident, which then caused them to create another one.
Why is there such an urge to rubberneck? One author once said that “Curiosity is in our nature.” We are a curious people. The longer we think on a thing or see something that’s out of the norm, the stronger our desire becomes to want to look, investigate and participate. Self-control and resisting the temptation are thrown out the window.
Another author points out that “In times like these, it is vital to pay even more attention to what’s going on in front of you — because nobody else is. Every other driver is likely rubbernecking, just like you are tempted to do. Rubbernecking is such a traffic safety problem that first responders increasingly are placing barriers around accidents to prevent people from looking. That’s because prevention works in distracted driving. People who don’t text don’t get in as many accidents as people who do. People who don’t rubberneck don’t get in as many accidents as those who do. So the barriers work as a preventive mechanism.”
So how does this relate to our Christian walk?
We have wise counsel all around us telling us not to look at certain things that will trip us up, if not destroy us spiritually. Do we put that wisdom into practice when we find ourselves facing a curious situation? Or does curiosity prevail with its pull on you? God knew we’d be a curious people, which is why He warns us of many things to refrain from in His Word. So, what is it that is causing you to take your eyes off of the spiritual path that God’s prepared in front of you? What is it that you just have to peek at or look into? What is it that is distracting you from the goals and paths God has for your life? What is it that you find yourself more and more curious about? Where’s it leading you? What warning signs are you ignoring? What barriers/preventative mechanisms need to go up in order to avoid another spiritual accident/tragedy? I recall one of my professors in college encouraging us to have “bouncing eyes.” Anytime we found ourselves catching a glimpse of something the Holy Spirit didn’t want us looking at, then we needed to avert/bounce our eyes away from that stumbling block as quick as possible.
Are you a rubberneck Christian? If so, then what changes has the Holy Spirit been nudging at you to make in your spiritual walk with the Lord? Below are some passages to take into consideration that relate to today’s reading.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

Just for a short time…Peter took his eyes off  Jesus and what happened to him?
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
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Aaron looked to the people rather than to the Lord and what happened to him? Exodus 32
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James 1:15 (NLT) These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
Job 31:1 (NLT) “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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Song: I Look to You by Selah
Song: Fix My Eyes by for King & Country