This is the time of year when leaves are falling fast on bike trails in the Midwest. So, it’s important for cyclists to be on the lookout for hidden hazards. I say this because just recently I was riding on a trail near my home and NOT watching carefully when suddenly I got jolted hard at a spot where a tree root had buckled the asphalt surface—a spot that was largely covered by autumn-colored leaves.
Fortunately, I was able to maintain my control and stay on my bike, unlike a friend of mine who, several years ago, came out far worse. She was enjoying a casual ride on a beautiful fall day when, without warning, her front tire dropped into a wide, leaf-covered crack, sending her flying over the handlebars and onto the pavement resulting in a broken shoulder.
It’s one thing to be diligent about watching for hazards that are obvious and out in the open, but it requires a whole different level of scrutiny to spot the ones that are more hidden. And that’s true whether we’re talking about pavement hazards or people hazards. Indeed, the latter are often harder to detect and far more dangerous.
Jesus knew that. Which is why one day, after having had a run-in with some of the religious leaders of his time, he sat down with his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) He wanted to help them see beyond the surface, to discern what was genuinely godly and what was merely pretending. (Note: Our English word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word for “actor” or “stage player.”)
That’s a vital skill, isn’t it? And it’s one that’s not so easy to learn. But harder still is learning to face the hypocrisy in ourselves. That’s why Jesus didn’t stop with his warning about the Pharisees. Instead, he went on to tell his disciples that a day is coming when all that is hidden will be revealed. And lest they think he was talking only about the Pharisees’ hypocrisy, he used the word “you” to make it much more personal for his followers.
“Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.” (Luke 12:3)
So, let’s be honest about our own hidden hazards, and let’s commit ourselves to being people of integrity, humbly following in Jesus’ footsteps, that others may see him truly living in us.
PRAYER: Jesus, in you we see what genuine godliness is all about. Help us to be honest about our faults, that we might know your forgiveness, grow in your grace, and become ever more like you. We ask this in your own holy name. Amen
Dave Marty is a retired pastor who lives with his wife, Mary, in Brownsburg, Indiana. They have two beautiful daughters, two great sons-in-law, and two creative teenage grandchildren. In addition to cycling (including unicycling), Dave also enjoys gardening, Scrabble, hosting Holy Land tours with Mary, and tutoring kindergarteners at a nearby school