Journey of the Word

Never do I feel more like a fish swimming upstream than when I drive. It’s not that I’m driving against the flow of traffic {though that is not outside the realm of possibility for me . . . I have stories}. It’s that I’m driving the speed limit. And no one else is.

Now, before you think I’m going to glare at you with a holier-than-thou expression and tell you that speeding is sinful, you need to hear me out.

First off, it’s not that I never speed. It’s that I don’t make a practice of speeding. It’s really quite simple. I set the cruise control on the speed limit, and that is that.

I gather that this can be a touchy topic for some, so I’ll explain upfront. My goal here is not to convince you that speeding is wrong. My purpose, rather, is to explain why I believe speeding should be unthinkable in a Christian’s mind and how it is that this simple, daily act of rebellion {yes, that} is indicative of hearts bent towards disobedience and compromise.

Yep, that’s where I’m going with this. Don’t agree with my position? As I say, I meet hundreds on the road every day who don’t. But I think you may be surprised with where this is going and why it is so important.

I’ve talked to people who make a practice of speeding. Here is their logic:

“The speed limit is a suggestion. No one is expected to drive the speed limit. Even cops will tell you that five above is okay. The reality is, if you don’t drive above the speed limit, you will get run over. Not only that, if you really think about it, it is an act of love and selflessness to drive the average speed of the drivers around you in order to avoid an accident.”

My response goes something like this:

1. To drive above the speed limit is to break the law
   {thus, the possibility of receiving a ticket for such actions}.
2. Breaking the law is never an act of love
   {unless it is necessary in order to obey the law of God}.
3. The greatest way we can love others is to love God first
   {note the first and second commandments Jesus gave – in that order}.
4. Obedience is one of the highest forms of love
   {see Jesus’ example: Rom 5:19, Phil 2:8}.
5. And what does God command?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

One must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

{from Rom 13:1-5, see also 1 Pet 2:13-17}

God commands that we obey government authorities. The authorities say, “Drive according to this law.” And we, of all people, should obey. It’s as simple as that. Everyone else may rebel, or to put it nicely, “go with the flow.” But that’s just it. Christians don’t go with the flow.

And so it saddens me that many followers of Christ make a practice of speeding. I don’t mean to sound judgmental. I mean to sound disappointed. If Christians can’t stand up for what’s right when it comes to the daily and the routine, will they stand up when they’re told to bow and a gun is put to their head? If they’ve practiced justifying and compromising with every errand and commute, what makes them think they’ll obey God in other areas of their lives?

God demands obedience, and the simple decision to drive above the speed limit gives us one more chance to say to God, “No, thanks. I’ll live how I want. It’s not that big of a deal. Everybody’s doing it. I mean, did God really say . . . ?”

That’s how it started, after all. And ever since, fish, by the multitudes, have been swimming downstream.

 [image credit: pixabay.com, pixabay.com, journeyoftheword.com]