“You will be safe, if you always do right…“ (Proverbs 10:9a Contemporary English Version)
Driving safely, distinctly moving slowly, definitely staying alert, determined to be attentive to my surroundings, I was traveling east, coming out of a strip mall, on the paved path. I was about to pass the License Branch, one of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles locations in my city. There was another paved path where vehicles were traveling north, a direction that intersected with the path I was driving on. For the driver traveling north, there was a unmissable, unmistaken stop sign, a BIG red unmovable STOP sign.
As far as I know, this sign still means you are supposed to STOP. Look! I had the right of way, but I had to stop abruptly as the driver approaching the stop sign, assuming he apparently was coming from the BMV, just kept going. God forgive me, but I gave him “the look.” My church members are trying to break me of this tendency. It falls right under their prayers for me to have increasing patience. At least, however, I did refrain from communicating with my hands, palms lifted up, to express silently, “What are you doing?” (No expletive was expressed!) I wanted to put them up in the air, as they say, “wave them in the air, like I just didn’t care.” (Don’t try to act like you don’t know this phrase! Smile!) But with all the road rage going on, I did not want to be a victim of parking lot rage or to engage in any risky altercation. I didn’t say a word, but being transparent, admittedly I thought, “Didn’t you just come out of the license branch? Didn’t you just come out of the place where you had to pass a written driver’s exam that included some questions regarding the rules of the road? Didn’t you just come out of the facility that has all kind of visual aids to remind you of safe driving?” Yes, I had a lot, I mean a lot, of questions racing through my mind that started with, “Didn’t you just come out of… “
Avoiding an accident and an argument as a minimal happening, I proceeded to drive to my next stop. I’m still thinking. I thought, “I hope church folks, real believers, definite disciples of Christ, duly called sons and daughter of God don’t ever cause anybody, including family, friends, and fellow workers to ask, “Didn’t you just come out of church?” “Didn’t you just come out of some prayer time?” “Didn’t you just come of the cafeteria where you were reading your bible?” “Didn’t you just come out of choir rehearsal where you were singing about how you were going to stay on the battlefield?” “Didn’t you just come out of the Christian Bookstore?”
Yes, I hope we who are saved never cause somebody to remark, “Didn’t you just come out of…” I hope we never give other reason to question the benefit of being a follower of Christ and a regular attendee in the assembly of the saints for proper purposes.
Was your mental response, “Don’t worry Mark. You won’t.” I hope that was your response. Have a fantastic, faith-walking Friday. Be blessed!
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17 KJV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King