My friend, Hal Olsen, is a creative missionary journalist.  While living in Kenya he was often amused by roadside signs which read “Attention: Elephants have the right away!”  After all any motorist who suddenly comes face to face with a couple tons of elephant doesn’t need a sign to tell him the evident facts of life.  So, one day he sat down at his typewriter (yes, that’s what was used in those days) and wrote a story about the signs for several magazines.  That was many, many moons ago, and I lost or misplaced his orginial story, but I wanted to include it in this blog, so, with Hal’s blessing I’ve written a facsimile.  Here’s my rendition of Hal’s story.

     Road signs along African roads read, “Attention: Elephants have the right of way.”  Of course, any motorist who suddenly comes face to face with a couple tons of elephant, doesn’t need a sign to tell him the evident facts of life.

     The tragedy is that often a night-time driver, enthralled by the sight, will flash on high-beam lights to get a better look.  This, of course, disturbs the elephant and hours later the driver might very well arrive at his destination in a car that looks like he took a joy ride through a war zone.

     A wise night-time driver will do several things when he encounters an elephant.  First, he’ll stop slowly and then turn off the motor.  Next, he’ll either dim his lights or turn them off completely.  This way the elephant will see the silent, dark vehicle simply as an obstacle and will go around it.  No damage done.

NATURE-ly SPEAKING — a spiritual lesson can be learned from this simple, common sense proceedure.  Spiritually, light causes opposition from the Satanic enemy.  Dim you light, or better still, turn it off completely, and, like the elephant, your satanic enemy will not become agitated and will disappear.  After all, Jesus said correctly, “…men love darkness rather than light….” (That goes for Satan and his demons too.)  And yes, Jesus was crucified because the powers of darkness couldn’t stand the awful exposure the light of His teachings brought.  Even today, Christians who faithfully witness to the light found in Christ are open to demonic attacks by Satan and his cohorts.

     Therefore…Christians have a decision to make!  Dim or douse the light and be free from enemy attack!  Or, obey the command of Christ found in Matthew 5:15, 16, “Don’t hide your light…instead put it on a stand and let it shine for all.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see….”

     So, my fellow Christians, when we’re surrounded by spiritual “Elephants” it seems the Bible wants us to let our lights shine brightly even if we have to take (gulp!) a few lumps for Jesus.  After all, because of His lumps we have Salvation and Eternal life!

P.S. — However, if you ever travel on an African road, watch out for real elephants and follow these instructions v-e-r-y  c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y.