Eleven years of a perfect driving record is down the drain. I got caught speeding Monday night, a week after I bragged to (one of the youth group) about how I never had to pay a speeding ticket (I got one when I was 16, but it was dropped). As I was sitting in my car with the policeman behind me, all kinds of excuses were running through my mind as to why I should get out of it:
“I have a perfect driving record and I’ve been driving for 11 years.”
“I’m not used to this rental car. I didn’t think I was going that fast.”
“The speed limit should be higher on this road.”
“I’m not used to driving an automatic transmission. It just got away from me.”
“I’m a youth minister, religious immunity.”
“I’m not a speeder, I just was just lost in thought and wasn’t watching my speed.”
And I tried to work these excuses into my conversation with the police officer, and he just smiled and had me sign the ticket and told me when to appear in Martin traffic court. But the fact still remains that I was speeding, and I knew the speed limit, even if I wasn’t paying attention. And since that Monday it has been remarkable how much I have paid attention to the speed limit.
How often does this carry over into our spiritual life. We know God’s law, but we just get caught up in life. We don’t mean to break it. And the excuses role in, getting more and more ridiculous as we hide behind them:
“Surely the Lord can look over this one.”
“I’ve had perfect church attendance for 11 years.”
“I didn’t think it would go this far and I would end up here.”
“God couldn’t have meant His law like this.”
“It was just a one time thing. This isn’t a habit.”
“I’m a church leader, religious immunity.”
When I finally got home somewhat angry over all the reasons I should not have gotten that ticket, it finally dawned on me. “I was speeding. The cop was doing his job. I’m guilty.” I stopped offering excuses. I will not offer the judge any excuses when I see him, bite the bullet, take responsibility, and enjoy defensive driving. (I don’t want this on my record.)
God sees right through our excuses, and He isn’t buying them. What He wants is not all the reasons we sinned, but to see us take responsibility and say, “I’m guilty.” No excuses. And to the ones who humble themselves and walk in the light, His response is “Jesus’ blood has already cleansed you. You have a perfect record.” No defensive driving needed.
That was my article. Incidently, any time someone said something about it, I still was using the excuse that the speed limit should be higher. But even if it was the 45 I think it should be, I was going 51.
Or, I'll take the Colbert approach:
Automatic transmissions-you are on notice!
30 mph speed limit sign on Mt. Pelia Road-you are dead to me!
2 comments:
i make excuses all the time. luckily i never have to with cops- they just don't give me tickets.
incidentally i don't speed all the time. Just on certain roads.
Me to, like where the posted speed limit is way too low. I don't speed through residential sections, which that area has some houses, but most of them are back in subdivisions and the roads come into that street.
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