Tibor S - SN - 1 -

n December 14, 1996, a 763 foot grain

freighter, The Bright Field, was heading

down the Mississippi near New Orleans,

Louisiana, when it lost control, veered toward the shore

and crashed into a riverside shopping mall. At the time,

the Riverwalk Mall was crowded with some 1,000

shoppers causing injuries to 116 of them. The impact of

the freighter demolished parts of the wharf, which is the

site of 200 shops and restaurants as well as the adjoining

Hilton Hotel. The ship had lost control at the stretch in

the Mississippi that is considered the most dangerous to

navigate. After investigating the accident for a year, the

Coast Guard reported that the freighter had lost control because the engine had shut down.

The engine had shut down because of low oil pressure. The oil pressure was low because of a

clogged oil filter. And the oil filter was clogged because the ship’s crew had failed to

maintain the engine properly. Furthermore, the failure was not out of character. According to

the lead Coast Guard investigator, the ship’s owner and crew had failed to test the ship’s

equipment and to repair long-standing engine problems.

Sudden spiritual disasters often times have a long history as well – a long history of

failing to filter your influences. If you fail to avoid negative influences, you are heading for a

spiritual shipwreck. If you are going to have any chance at all to win this spiritual showdown

with sin, you are going to have to avoid negative influences.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever

is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or

praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard

from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9

O

[“DO NOT LET ANY

UNWHOLESOME TALK COME

OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS, BUT

ONLY WHAT IS HELPFUL FOR

BUILDING OTHERS UP

ACCORDING TO THEIR

NEEDS, THAT IT MAY

BENEFIT THOSE WHO

LISTEN…” EPHESIANS 4:29. ]