Highway driving can be an adventure especially in Illinois where everything is under construction, but nothing is being constructed. I recently took a rode trip with my 19 year old son Jameson and we traveled through several states on our way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I discovered that drivers are pretty much the same no matter where they are or what state they are from.
As we made our way down the various highways, we tried to pay close attention to the traffic laws. I assume that traffic signs are put up on the road as a law and not as a suggestion. But anyway we were constantly having to change speeds as the speed limits were always changing especially in the construction zones.
We would be traveling 70 and then all of a sudden a sign would tell us to prepare to slow to 55 as we were entering a construction zone. I would start the gradual process of slowing from 70 to 55 only to have motorists zoom by me on their way to wherever they were going. Some would drive on my tailgate and others would swerve by me and give me evil looks and some would give gestures and I am not talking about waving.
I thought to myself, "I thought we were supposed to slow down after all that is what the sign said." But no one seemed to care what the sign said even if it was in a construction zone. I guess everyone was in a hurry to get where they were going. I found myself saying outloud to no one in particular "I hope you get a ticket." Of course everyone knows that will never happen because the police officer is waiting on me to speed up so that he can give me the ticket.
So here I was trying to be obedient, while getting mocked, criticized and even threatened by all those around me. What was I to do? I did exactly what every one else did. I sped up thinking that there was no way they could give me a ticket when everyone else was doing the same thing.
Do you think that driving imitates life? How many times do you see someone doing something that you know is wrong, the Bible says it is wrong, your conscience says it is wrong, and even your Momma says it is wrong, but yet you find yourself doing it anyway? Why do we do it? We don't want to be criticized. We do not want to be mocked or laughed at. And we certainly do not want to be threatened. So we go with the flow.
Am I alone or are there others that go with the flow as well. I mean after all if everyone else is doing it it can't be wrong can it?
Good post Bruce.
ReplyDeleteI suppose your last thought could be applied to any group or subculture.
It is good that we have the Word of God to directly impact each of our lives so that we do not simply "go with the flow".
doesthebible, I think these words could apply to the church as well. We often find ourselves doing things, just because we have always done them that way. It is probably appropriate for us to always ask "but what does the Bible say." Not always easy because often times culture speaks so loud that we cannot hear what God is actually saying.
ReplyDeleteBruce