Have you ever driven in the left lane, in a line of traffic, just moving with the crowd, not paying attention? You look in the rear view mirror and all of a sudden, there is a car right on your bumper. Just as you see that, the flashing red and blue lights come on. You look at the speedometer and notice you’re driving 70 mph in a 55 zone. You pull over thinking the police is going to issue you a ticket. Your mind rushes to think about how this will affect your insurance rate; what are you going to tell your wife (I don’t mean to sound sexist; women speed too); or why am I being pulled over?
As you move over to the right lane – already preparing an excuse – the police car rushes pass you and continues on. Your brow is no longer covered with sweat; you pull back into the left lane and continue slightly more aware of your speed.
Not caught. No harm, no foul. I got away with it.
You start to think about it and rationalize your speed by saying it was acceptable: I was in a line of traffic so we were all speeding. It wasn’t really wrong. Or I’ll bet the policeman does 70 in a 55 when he’s driving home.
Finally, everybody does it.
Rationalization. Self-justification.
How often do we act by simply saying, “Everyone does it.”?
What happens if we take that attitude of our behavior before God? I’m not talking about speeding. I’m talking about behavior. Kids listen to lyrics without critical thought, because the lyrics are popular. Parents fail to train their children “in the way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6), because they don’t have enough time. Employees don’t work as diligently as they should, because their co-workers are doing the same. The list goes on and on.
Let’s all examine why we do what we do. Is it pleasing to God?
“God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Ken Lont is the Executive Director and can sometimes be seen driving a car above the speed limit.