Learn from the burn….

Hey family!

I was flying down the highway at 65 m.p.h (well maybe closer to 70-ish), on my way to my family’s dinner. I sped along, it seemed like the Lord tapped me on the shoulder and pointed out a posted sign that said “Speed limit 55”. I apologized to God and tried to follow the laws of the land.

As I attempted to slow my roll, the other vehicles whizzed on by me without any regard to the sign. The thought came to me that everyone else was going over the limit and not getting caught…why should I obey? Then there was the “keeping up with the flow of traffic” reasoning. And when discussing this with a friend, in the spirit of justification, she said “well, the police would have to pull everyone over–they were all breaking the law.” Ummm yes, that will go over well with the officer–NOT!

Looking at this on a natural level, there are a couple of lessons in this. First, as people of God, unless the laws are in direct conflict with God’s word, we are required to obey earthly ordinances since God has established law and order through people as Romans chapter 12 tells us. Thus our civil laws ARE God’s law. So when we break the law by exceeding the speed limit, we are breaking God’s law.

The other thing is, speed limits are posted for protection. Obviously, there has been some thought, research and sadly, in some cases, accidents that went into the decision for the limits. Who are we to decide the law is not for us and override it? Sometimes we get stopped by an officer who has mercy and lets us go with a warning. Sure, we’re careful for a few weeks, slow down when we see someone who is pulled over, but then we slip back into the heavy-foot habit. And once we see the lights flash in the rearview mirror and get a COSTLY ticket–we get upset with the officer who stops us?

Spiritually speaking, God has established certain codes of behavior for us to follow because as the ultimate “law maker”, He knows the repercussions of us going over the limits He provides. How many times have we been warned in prayer, through God’s word, a sermon or talking with someone who has experience in the area we speed in? Have there not been times when we’ve seen people “pulled over”– entangled in situations that were caused from not heeding the God’s word? We slow down, but then as we see others disregarding the Word and moving to their destinations quickly, we think, well, maybe I should go that way–nothing happened to them. Psalm 37:1-2 tells us different. “Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”

The truth of the matter is, as tempting as it is to go outside of God’s will to get what we want, it will only get us a costly “ticket” later on. I think back to the times I got into God’s permissive (rather than His divine) will, and NOTHING good came out of it , except, of course the lessons I learned from the chastening. (“Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:11). While the lessons learned are invaluable, I don’t want to always “learn from the burn”–I’d rather heed the posted signs and warnings aka God’s Word through whom/however He brings it.

Bottom line, with the grace of God, let’s do our best to stay within the boundaries God has given us. Following what God has given us in the “66” (His Word) will bless and protect us, honor God, help us to be that light on the hill and keep us from the “burn” both here and eternally.

God bless you!

Blen

Photos courtesy of:

http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/JapanProj/FLClipart/Medical.html

http://www.laserveil.com/police/radar/

http://www.therockchurchranch.com/