I saw this sign when I first moved to Statesboro, about a year ago. Just the other day while driving down the same road I saw it again. Of course my mind began to ponder what I could expect as I continued to drive. After a couple of hundred yards or so, I encountered the rough road…and it was rough, but only for a short distance.
As the road smoothed out, I began to think more about the sign, who put it up, and why they put it up.
Ok, some things are obvious; the DOT (Department Of Transportation) in Ga. put the sign up to identify a poor section of paved road and warn motorist ahead of time of this potentially dangerous stretch of road. As I thought more about it, I wondered how many man-hours and cost the DOT had invested in designing, producing, and then erecting the sign in this location. Not to mention they probably had to send a person out to verify that the road was actually “rough” and warranted a sign being erected to notify others.
It’s been a year, and I wonder - why DOT doesn’t just FIX THE ROAD and take the sign down? They have the tools, materials, and manpower. Isn’t that their responsibility too? Not just identifying “problem areas” for others, but doing something about them?
You know, some people in churches today do similar things. They “IDENTIFY” problems in others lives, or in our community, and then put big signs on them that “warn” people about the things they have “identified”. Then they do nothing about helping solve or correct the situation, even though many times they have the power and resources to positively make a difference. Heck, even the disciples did this…
Matt 14:15
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
The disciples identified the problems, and verbally were putting up signs of warning to Jesus about the problems that lie ahead.
But Jesus knew that through power of the Holy Spirit, these Disciples who had recently returned from “preaching the Kingdom of God” and “healing the sick” could take care of this problem too. So, Jesus told the disciples what I believe he is telling his church today…
Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
In other words, don’t just “Identify” and put a sign up about the problem, but FIX THE ROAD. Give them something to eat.
Tomorrow when your out and about identifying and putting signs up of all the “rough roads” that lie ahead for your family, business, church, community, and world, how about stopping for a moment, roll up your sleeves, and begin FIXING THE ROAD. Make some WAVES of Jesus' love!