I’m a reformed speeder.
This is a big deal since a few of my nick-names are Dune Buggy Baby (from my parents) and Speedracer (from my Grandpa). My husband has also referred to my driving as that like a “bat out of hell”.
You get the idea. I USED to drive fast. What can I say I was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, where you quickly learn it’s survival of the fittest on those Chicago expressways.
So, two years ago I received a speeding ticket. I have received more over the years but this is what finally led to my transformation.
It was a long open stretch of country road in Kokomo, Indiana.
There was a semi right next to me doing the same speed in the LEFT lane and the cop pulls me over. I was doing 15 over. I guess he thought it would be easier to pull me over instead of the semi. Stink!!
He tells me to “slow down and have a nice day”. Ok, I’ll give it my best shot.
About 30 minutes later…….I was driving down a stretch of road in Carmel, Indiana that is only 35 MPH.
I held fast to that 35 and then people started honking at me!
Seriously (my Mom was with me, she can testify).
The guy behind me starts honking and gesturing for me to go faster. But I’m doing the speed limit and I have a speeding ticket in my purse – no way.
He wasn’t very happy with me for doing the speed limit.
So within 1 hour I received a speeding ticket for driving too fast and minutes later I had people honking at me for driving too slow following the Speed Limit. I felt like crying. I couldn’t win.
Fast forward to yesterday…….I’d been doing so good following the speed limits every time I drive. In fact, over the Memorial Day weekend I was traveling for 6 hours and set the cruise control at the speed limit on the expressway – who does that???
I do. I’m a reformed speeder remember.
It happened yesterday around 12 noon. I was leaving my daughter’s school where I had been volunteering for a few hours.
I stop at the intersection.
An unmarked police car starts flashing it’s lights. He’s facing towards me across the intersection.
The light turns green. I turn left. The cop follows me with his lights on.
I thought he was going to tell me my gas cap was open or something. (that’s always embarrassing isn’t it?)
Nope. Lucky me. He says I was doing 39 in a 25. WHAT!
I started crying. I know ridiculous. But here’s why – I have truly been trying so hard not to speed. I don’t remember the last time I did speed. Every time I’m in the car, I watch that gage. I even tell my husband, mom and sisters the speed limit when I’m with them (they love that!).
I wanted to start telling the officer all these things…..”you’d be so proud of me, I really do follow the speed limit”.
In my past, I’d accept the ticket a little more willingly, knowing that I was speeding and I deserve it.
But this time….I’d been good for so long. Trying so hard. I couldn’t believe that the moment I let my guard down, BAM, there’s a cop that somehow clocked me from the opposite direction while he was sitting at the intersection.
I was wiping my tears while he was writing out my citation.
Of course, the Lord is all about teachable moments and appearantly this was one.
Right away He reminds of GRACE.
See, life is like speeding, it doesn’t matter how hard you try to follow the rules and be good. You will always fall short, always mess up. Eventually.
But unlike this police officer, Jesus has a never ending supply of grace.
That’s why forgiveness of sins is all about GRACE and not about our own efforts to follow all the rules and man-made religious standards.
The ancient Jewish law consisted of 613 individual statutes, 248 commands and 365 prohibitions. Whew! Try keeping all those!!! Guess what, they couldn’t.
Sin is like that. No matter how hard you try to be good – you will eventually slip up.
What feels like the one time I was speeding, I got caught. I was mad and frustrated. I’d been trying so hard but the reality is I was driving over the speed limit.
My past victories and good track record didn’t free me from the consequences of this moment.
Jesus reminded me of that. Not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.
If you’ve been trying so hard to be good. If you’ve been trying to follow the rules. It’s time to throw the rule book out the window. Jesus is here and His grace forgives EVERY SIN.
You might be good 80% of the time but that leaves at least 20% that needs grace.
And if you’re lucky like me, Jesus will use speeding tickets to remind you of your need for Him.
Till the next time,
Julie
Preaching to the choir my friend! Picked up for speeding in Naperville while my drivers license was being held in Midlothian in the summer of ’87. Two years later, sent to safe driving class for cruising an undisclosed speed in my dad’s Olds Ninety Eight down the Eisenhower. Cruise control is the only way to not speed in town and on highway. Perfect metaphor for the need for grace. Vigilance is not enough!
My court date is actually tomorrow. Still a little frustrated from the whole thing but it’s been a good teaching moment for my kiddos. Hope all is well friend.