CHAPTER 42: SITUATIONAL AWARENESS 2024
“Know where you are,” is generally the statement of such a lesson. However, I have a better one for you. “Know where you’re not.” In aviation, when you’re lost, it’s best to find a place to land. Wasting anymore fuel, or possibly running into darkness or bad weather is better left to landing first, and then an investigation into where you are. Long story short, you are not where you thought you should be. Check that fast!
Luke 19:10
New International Version
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Do not under any circumstances pretend that you are safe in any situation. Ask “Am I safe?”
God, what is mine to do and what is not mine to do?
When do I ask that question? Everywhere. In a room, on the freeway, in an office, any deal, contract negotiation, conversation, relationship, anywhere, all the time, anytime, stay in the now, absolutely conscious of self, God’s presence and all things in the vicinity, interactions, physical space and mindset. Has He brought me here, or did I bring me here? The mind is a dangerous place. If I’m not on my game every second — I slip and lose valuable time. Situational Awareness, do I know where I am, or where I’m not?
1 Corinthians 10:22-24
New King James Version
22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?23 All things are lawful [a]for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things [b]edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
Yes, in free will I can do anything, but that doesn’t make it right. I can co-sign my way right out of an eternity in Heaven, lie, cheat, steal, squander monies, and time, God’s time, the time He has afforded me.
Romans 8:5
New Living Translation
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
Am I vigilant against those things that are not good for me? Am I gambling with my life or the money the Lord has given me? Am I engaging in relationships that could cause harm? Are there vices only the Lord can free me from? Am I, in a dangerous moment, just simply not paying attention.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
God may be saying “look where you were, where you’ve been, what I saved you from, because I love you and I was always with you, look what I have done with you, now look what is happening for you right now.”
Psalm 46:10
New International Version
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
I pray daily the following: “whatever is in my head that shouldn’t be in my head, please Lord, get it out.” “If there is information I need to complete today’s work, please Lord, show me.”
2 Peter 1:3
English Standard Version
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
Stay in the company of relevant people, foolish talk and emotional assumptions have no place in any position of authority.
Proverbs 27:17
English Standard Version
17 Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.
Wisdom takes time, experience takes time, knowledge and understanding take commitment and time. Fear tests me, Faith maintains me. Examples of people who did not understand situational awareness. First off let’s take a look at those who did not know where they were and it cost them dearly.
- Judas Iscariot, he did not understand where he was not.
- Samson, he did not realize where he was not.
- King Saul, he did not realize where he was not.
- Adam did not realize where he was not.
All of the above were not where they should be, either physically or spiritually, mentally they had lost touch with God and the cost was staggering. Judas betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver.
Matthew 27:5
American Standard Version
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
Samson, in the tent of a harlot, Delilah, to his bitter end. She set him up and took him down.
Judges 16:20b-21
New King James Version
But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. 21 Then the Philistines took him and [a]put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.
King Saul, took God for granted. Adjusted God’s direction into his own version of direction. It cost the life of his family.
1 Samuel 31:6
Common English Bible
6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his soldiers died together that day.
Adam, did not realize he was not with Eve protecting her from the lies of Satan and without Adam, she violated the Lord’s order and sinned.
Genesis 3:23
New American Standard Bible
23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden,
Four people, paid dearly for their mistakes. Not being aware, in the ill-kept place of bad choices.
Let’s take a look at one who did know where he was exactly. And used situational awareness to benefit so many. The apostle Paul in the book of Acts was in Thessalonica. This town had more false Gods than most. Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Dionysus, a whole bunch of them.
These people were so crazy about luck and superstitious nonsense that they were afraid they might have forgotten some god — and that might bring wrath upon them somehow. So they set up a blank stone monument. The inscription is priceless, “to the unknown god.” Paul, grasping the situation, goes into the temple and tells them, “hey, I represent and have been sent by the “unknown God.” Naturally everybody takes note, they don’t want to irritate the “unknown God.”
Acts 17:22-27
New International Version
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
There were many converts from this brilliant maneuver. Why? Jesus offers all good things to those who love Him. False gods do not offer anything. Jesus was a much better deal for Thessalonica and yes they wanted it. Paul, situational awareness, he knew exactly where he was and he preached the scope of God’s sovereignty, sorrow and grief for the lost, love, compassion, mercy, and the full Counsel of God. Jesus said it, best.
Luke 24:44-45
New King James Version
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Fight with yourself, know exactly where you are and be clear of the consequences of any action you may or may not take. What is that in the Holy Spirit?
The word is: “Logos.” Devine revelation of the divine thought. It is the communication of the most perfect thought, information or intelligence to another. Know where you are, stop, pause, be always aware, Jesus is walking with you. He is the perfect counsel for Chapter 42, He has always known…
John 1:1-3
New King James Version
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Know where you are and where you are not. Know who you are and who you are not. And in both places be sure you are with God and not without God. Try that on your balance sheet and see what happens. Could you use the Word — yes, prayer in the moment and the Word read every morning to strengthen you and give you Discernment through your day.
In 1889, Andrew Murray, one of the founders of the South African General Mission is quoted as saying, “The secret of faith is this: there can be only as much faith as there is the living Word dwelling in the soul.” Chapter 42 Situational Awareness 2024
Amen.
