December 10th, 2007 
Dana Fisher As I was heading in to church yesterday an usher who helps with parking came sliding over as fast as he could scurry towards my car. He urged me to back up and park somewhere else as the spot I had coveted right there in the front was covered in slick ice.
Turns out the salt truck had not yet showed up and the entire parking lot was coated in a layer of clear ice ready to take down anyone willing to venture on it. I carefully made my way around the ice through a carefully thought out path, around some cars, up a few spots, and then back down towards the church entrance.
On my way out of church I noticed the salt on the ground. The truck had come and most of the ice was slowly melting away. I didn’t take a second thought as I walked out towards my car. My left foot suddenly slipped out from under me. My arms went sprawling out to the sides for balance, my back tightened for the fall. As I feared the inevitable, my right foot caught a patch of salted snow and ice and I was planted securely on two feet again.
What are the characteristics of black ice? It’s clear. It appears to be something it’s not and when you step out on it you risk serious injury. Pretty Basic. Why then should we not be even more careful in our actions? Sin looks so good, and always appears to be something it’s not. it comes on subtly. This little bit isn’t bad…then suddenly your neck deep in a world of hurt. Maybe that first step wasn’t sin, but that second and third were.
Don’t open the door with a suspect action if it even COULD lead to sin. Learn to say no to the smaller things that seem insignificant and you’ll avoid some larger problems.
2 Corinthians 11: 14-15 says: “…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” They make it seems as though it is okay, it is good. And before you know it you step out and it wasn’t pavement at all, it was black ice, and down you go.
This earth is full of pitfalls. In a world covered in black ice we need to be salt as the Lord calls us to be. As salt we are abrasive but salt also breaks down that black ice. You can trample all over black ice if it’s covered in salt. So to, be salt to an unbelieving world. Conquer your struggles/sin. If you are salt then your walking with Jesus daily. In walking with Jesus daily you are more keenly aware of wrong and right and more likely to resist the devil’s temptations.
When you find yourself not being salt and you step out and slip on that ice Jesus is right there to catch you. He’ll help you balance and get through. And if you should fall? He kneels down and picks you up.
So as winter comes here in the northeast be careful! Keep a watchful eye for black ice, for sin that masquerades as good. Be vigilant, and if you see someone fall, do as Jesus would and pick them up.
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