boyradd

They will know we are Christians by the way we…get a speeding ticket

A few days ago I was driving to the beach doing what I normally do, speeding, texting, singing, and laughing (kids, don’t try this at home).  I had just put my phone back in the cup holder when I looked up and saw the speed limit at 25 mph…and a cop sitting there pointing his equipment right at me.  Since I was driving 55 mph, I had a strange feeling that I was busted.  The lights started flashing and he immediately pulled out behind me.  Didn’t have to drive far to get me, however, because I knew I was caught and simply pulled my car over and waited for him.

How do you feel when you KNOW you are busted?  When you know you’ve done the wrong thing?  Do you immediately try to figure out a way out of your predicament?  There is a whole school of thought that believes we as humans are mere animals and will exhibit a fight or flight mentality.  A few years ago, I might have agreed.  Past speeding tickets (yes, I have a history) have caused my heart to race and my mind to begin thinking of a great excuse.

But as I pulled my car over, I noticed something odd about me.  I was completely at peace.  My heart didn’t race.  I wasn’t thinking of a creative excuse to give to the officer.  I simply prayed to God that peace be with me.  You see, Romans 8:1 explains that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.  We are still human and still make stupid boneheaded mistakes, but if we are in Christ Jesus, we have the guarantee that He is with us and protecting us through everything that we will go through.

I could list a lot of different Bible verses about peace in God (Ps 29:11, Isa 26:3, Mt 11:28-30, Jn 14:27), but I want to focus on just a couple.  Psalm 32:17 says that “the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”  This goes hand in hand with Romans 8:1.  Not only will we have no condemnation, but we will have peace, quietness and confidence.  Romans 5:1 says “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God has given you peace, Christian.

But something else happened in my story.  As the officer came to my car, and I felt peaceful about whatever punishment he was about to give to me, he noticed my Bible and discipleship study in the back of my car.  His first question to me was, “Do you know how fast you were driving?”  After answering him, he then said, “correct, and do you know what the speed limit is here?”  Again, after answering him he said, “Correct.”

But this is where life takes a little bit of a turn.  His third question stuck in my soul.  “Is that a Bible in your back seat?”  Now, I have to admit, I was a little anxious at this one not fully expecting to be martyred for my faith at that moment, but I answered him with a yes.

His fourth question struck me even more because it was at this question that I knew God was in control. “What was your morning devotional verse today?”  How many cops ask you that question?  Well it just so happened that my morning verses were Romans 8 with a focus on verse 1.  I simply laughed and recited Romans 8:1.

The officer laughed, told me that he needed to give me a ticket, but made the ticket for 35mph in a 25mph zone, a far cry from the penalty for 55 in a 25.

I’m not going to preach a prosperity gospel and say that you will get what you want if you follow Christ, but God was in control of that entire traffic stop.  Maybe God used it to teach the officer something, but I know He definitely used it to teach this man something.  Not about sin and penalty, but about God’s control over every situation.  God showed me His patience, His love, and even His humor during that time.

And at the end of it all, I feel that God proved to me once again that He is the most amazing being ever and it solidified my love for Him even more.

Amen.