God showed me several years ago that my cavalier attitude toward the speed limit was disobedience and, therefore, willful sin. So nowadays, I set my cruise on whatever the speed limit is and try never to break the law.
I spend quite a bit of time on the expressway commuting from my home in Seymour, Indiana, to Indianapolis (about 70 miles north). Because of my conviction to never break the law and therefore break faith with my Lord Jesus Christ, I get passed a lot. I have often wondered if the lawless behavior was unique to a specific demographic of people group. Perhaps younger adults or sports cars were the culprits. Maybe it is just older men with sour looks or soccer moms trying to get all the shopping done before school lets out. Nope, disregard for the law seems to come in all sizes and shapes. No matter whether your bumper tells me you are a “Proud parent of an Eagle Scout” or that you want me to follow you to church, regard for my safety and 1 Timothy 2:11-17 are less important than their need for speed.
As you can tell, I have a reasonably strong conviction about how speeding is a clear violation of the Word of God and, therefore, a stumbling block for the Christian walk. Many friends chided me and told me I was off my rocker, so I searched the scriptures to find out what God says about the matter. Here is a little Bible study you may find interesting. Let me warn you – it might take a little longer to work tomorrow…
Start at 1 Timothy 2:11-17. God tells us to obey the governors of the land in which we live. Verse 13 is very prescriptive, telling us to follow the law for “the sake of the Lord”.
Titus 3:1-2 tells us to obey the local government and to do it happily.
Go to Romans 13:1-10. Verse 2 says that my 73MPH to flow with traffic is actually resisting God.
In Matthew 24:12, Jesus says, “Because lawlessness will abound,” our love will grow cold.
Breaking the law has become intentional and regular. Jesus knew this was a problem because he knew history. Read the story of King Ahab that starts with “it bacame trivial for him to walk in sin”. (1 Kings 16:31)
Finally, read Proverbs 28:9. God tells us, “If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.” Imagine one of your children in need of prayer and knowing that your prayers for that child were detestable to God because you needed to break the law.
I am not stupid, nor am I perfect. I have been pulled over for my share of well-deserved speeding tickets for “Going with the flow of traffic”. And I know this teaching is not popular or easy to follow. But I do know that my actions speak louder than my words. Isn’t it wonderful when your actions provide an opportunity to tell someone about the love of God and how Jesus came to provide the way for them to live… forever? Image that co-worker whose mother is about to endure, and you are in perfect agreement with God and ready to lift this need to the throne of God for and with them.
Next time you are out on 1-65 and see that slow poke in the right lane going only 70, I hope you will check your speed… and obedience. Let’s honor our God the way he desires to be honored, through our obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22
