Meaning Lost, Too Familiar


“Only Use the Left Lane To Pass.”  That’s what the sign said. Strange, I don’t remember seeing that one before. This time, I noticed it—and it was all along every highway that led to the mountains of Colorado. And it looks like the signs have been there for a long while. Apparently, that particular sign has become so familiar to me that it simply blended into the scenery. It had lost its meaning. Yet, this time I noticed. Probably because I spend most of my time in the left lane. It’s there for a good reason. The sign is posted to warn drivers that it is not safe for slow vehicles to be in the left lane and impeding the vehicles behind them. Passing another car on the right would be dangerous. Frankly, I’ve been tempted on more than one occasion to pass another car that is on the left from the right side.

Perhaps I’m taking this too seriously, but it bothered me when I realized that I don’t usually notice the sign. What other signs; what other warnings am I ignoring? Familiarity can cause complacency that can potentially place me in danger.

The problem of familiarity can also affect our spiritual lives. I am reminded that there are many familiar warnings in the Bible—strategic warnings. Good warnings. Warnings like “Don’t commit adultery,” “Don’t show favoritism,” and “Don’t repay evil for evil.” God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness instructs us through the Bible that there are things in life we need to avoid. He does this not because he wants to contain our behavior for his own amusement or control, but rather because He loves us and warns us for our own benefit. His warnings are real warnings about real dangers. “So, we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it”—Hebrews 2:1.

How often have you, as Christ-follower, been tempted to ignore God’s warnings because they have simply become too familiar? The signs no longer look like red warnings but have become grayed out in your consciousness. They are not as dramatic or noticeable. Can it be that you read right by them without thinking about their meaning? I’m guilty of this. How about you? Don’t let familiarity get the best of you.

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