I know of a place where you will be looked at as a strange
individual if you stuck to the traffic rules.
Now, I have known of traffic lights ever since I was very
young. It is also quite appreciable that it was a number of years later that I
came to see the actual street lights. This really helped me a great deal since
I realized what I was taught in primary school was not the actual case on the
ground.
At least, what I learnt from my primary school is
that one was supposed to look right, look left, look right again, and if the
road is clear, you are free to cross the road. It was a rude shock when I
realized that that is not always the case especially if you consider how things
were actually done, more particularly during rush hours. People will actually
cross the road at any convenient opportunity that presents itself. That is
whenever the cars are moving slow enough to allow you to cross without much
ado.
Just a simple example, suppose you wish to cross the
road and it is very clear. I mean, there is no traffic at all, only that the
traffic lights indicate that you are not supposed to cross. What will you do?
Food for thought…
Anyway, we are not talking about those cars and
lights we are used to but those that we are usually too busy to think about. An
analogy of this can be made with regard to the lives of Christians. We have the
commands of God expressed in His word which dictate how we should live our
lives. These can be compared to the street lights which direct the drivers and
pedestrians when using the road. One very clear thing that I believe you will
agree with is that both the driver and
pedestrian can move very smoothly without necessarily looking at one another
but focusing on the lights.
In a similar fashion, it is very possible for us to
enjoy our lives to the fullest when we focus upon God and his will and not what
is happening around us. The problem with humans, however is that there are
times when we are so preoccupied by circumstances that we forget to focus at
the master. This in turn leads to a great level of compromise among Christians
due to situational ethics. We tend to do things out of convenience even when
God has not given us the okay.
One important thing we should understand is that
traffic lights are meant to guide us and we should always wait for the right
time to cross the road whether or not there are cars. In a similar way, we
should live according to God’s word, whether or not certain situations engulf
us. It is important that we listen to His voice because He always has the best
answer at any given time. The bible tells me in Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 that “There
is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death.”
It is my urge therefore that we seek God’s will no
matter what. If God says no at a given time He has simply said NO and He does
not plan to change.
Numbers 23:19
“God is not a man, that he should
lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he
not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
Take the example of these three young men in Daniel
3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so,
our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and
He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto
thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image
which thou hast set up.” (KJV)
They knew that bowing to other gods was not an option
for them, and even if God did not deliver them, it only meant that it was not
His will. As Christians we are also not expected to justify our actions when we
clearly know that we are on the wrong.
Instead, let us move on obeying all traffic rules,
not only the traffic lights, for instance, Proverbs 4: 27 tells us:
“Do not swerve to the right or to
the left; turn your foot away from evil”
