The Threat of Underestimation

Mere days ago, my family came within inches of tragedy. Canoeing on the Buffalo River, we decided to stop for lunch. Once our canoes rested on the bank, we contemplated where to unload our food as a rocky shore and drizzling rain threatened our respite. As we debated about how we’d get comfortable on the rough terrain and how we’d make sandwiches without getting our bread soggy, we spotted it. The perfect place for alfresco dining. Across the river at the edge of a wide cave, lay a small ledge of rock softened by dirt. An outcropping above it provided a perfect umbrella. Buoyed by the idea of an honest-to-goodness picnic, we piled back into the canoes and headed for the other side of the river. Within feet of the landing, large boulders announced that the riverbed would not welcome our canoes. But it was too late. The gusto of our paddling launched us atop the jagged projections, and we were flung into the water. This set off a chain of events that unfolded both with rapid speed and in frighteningly slow motion. Water, dark and deep, swallowed me. I sank, sank, sank, until the life vest righted me, and I rose to the water’s surface. As I came up, shocked from the unexpected plunge, I was pummeled by the contents of our ice chest, which remained safely tethered to the boat, capsized boat. Seconds later, the overturned canoe and my husband were caught in an undertow that pulled them against a shelf of rock near a smaller cave through which water gushed. Forgetting that she’d removed her life vest moments earlier when we’d stopped to break for lunch, our daughter dove in to offer me assistance, and once my hands grasped the canoe, she turned to help her dad. This prompted my son to leap into the water and give her his life vest. My husband, still holding to the sunken canoe, broke free of the undertow, my daughter tugged on the life vest, but then, the current sucked my son beneath the water. Removing his shoes and catching a deep breath, he was able to float farther downstream to his dad and the rescued canoe. Both my daughter and I were able to climb into the second canoe and meet them. And we ended up with a happy ending and lots of laughs as we fished our mayonnaise, drinks, and a Ziploc of watermelon from the river. The unfolding of these threatening moments, however, was due to a series of underestimations. We underestimated the rocky terrain and the power of the undertow. We underestimated the river’s depth. We underestimated the danger surrounding such a tranquil resting place. We underestimated our need for floatation devices and our need to fasten the lid of our supplies securely within the boat. We underestimated our physical limitations. And underestimation could have cost our lives. Similarly, tragedy or near tragedy can occur with spiritual underestimation.
Underestimation occurs when we make faulty assumptions. We assume something is harmless when it is not. We disregard warnings that signal potential dangers and pitfalls. We are too casual and too self-assured when we’d be better served by caution. We take unnecessary risks. And we find we are in over our heads, sucked under by the unexpected, and ill prepared for the situation. When we put our confidence in things that are weak, we disregard the destructive potential of that which is stronger. The best way to avoid underestimation is by taking heed.
For spiritual safety, there are a few things the New Testament tells us to heed.

• Matthew 24:4 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”  Be on the lookout for deception.
• Mark 4:24 “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” Be careful what you listen to and what you have to say. It could come back to haunt you.
• Mark 13:33 “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Pay attention to the hour. Jesus could return for you sooner than expected, and you want to be prayerful and ready for that return.
• Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” Listen up! You need to be serving God with what you’ve been given.
• Luke 11:35 “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” Warning! Make sure you’re filling your life with light, not darkness!
• Luke 12:15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Be alert! Don’t get your eyes on stuff. It’s temporary.
• Luke 21:8 “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” Be aware! Some people look like they’ve got the real thing, but they don’t.
• Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Watch out! The pleasures and the cares of life can pull you under unexpectedly.
• Romans 11:21 “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” Careful! Don’t start thinking you deserve salvation. God’s mercy has saved you.
• 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Caution! Don’t put confidence in yourself! Pride will wipe you out every time.
• 1 Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” Prepare! Focus on what’s important now so you and those you love can be saved!
• Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Stay mindful! You can let go of the valuable, and it will cost you dearly!
• Hebrews 3:12 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” If you don’t watch out you can walk away from the God who loves you.

Giving heed to something means paying attention to it.  Had we been mindful of the likelihood of capsize, we would have secured our belongings more thoroughly. We would have anticipated danger and noticed the jagged outcropping of rock. We would not have stayed our course; we would have turned around. Our rescue efforts would have been made from the safety of the boat, and life jackets would have remained tightly fastened. Had we expected a close call with tragedy, we would have canoed with preparedness. We must do the same spiritually. Approaching our spiritual walk with carefulness, we can avoid the trap of underestimation.  We can be mindful of Satan’s devices, ready for his attempt to suck us into deep darkness. We can rely on God rather than assume our strength and abilities are sufficient for any task. We can turn to the Word for clarity rather than listening to our opinions and feelings.  We can substitute diligence for ease so that we aren’t overturned by vices and the consequences of trying to satisfy our carnal appetites.  We can place proper value on our need for a Source outside ourselves, thereby disqualifying underestimation with our trust in God and our attentiveness to His Word.

Giving heed renders the threat of underestimation powerless and thwarts its ability to sabotage our spiritual journey. We are equipped, prepared for smooth floating as well as any unexpected turbulence we might encounter.  Tragedy is avoided, and laughter can echo against the canyon walls of this grand adventure called life.
 
Tip/Tidbit: What areas of Scripture or what areas of your life do you need to pay more attention to today? Don’t take today for granted.
 

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