Most four-lane highways with a median strip down the middle have cross-over places every few miles where police cars and other authorized vehicles can make a U-turn. Usually they also have a NO-U-TURN sign for all other drivers. To disobey that sign can cause a major catastrophe, just as to disobey the directions in God’s Word, the Bible, can bring calamity into our lives. Proverbs 6:12,14,1512A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. (Proverbs 6:12)
14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. (Proverbs 6:14‑15) warns us: “A naughty person . . . walketh with a froward [rebellious] mouth. . . . Frowardness is in his heart. . . . He soweth discord [conflict]. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.”
One day we were driving south on the New York Thruway when an older gentleman discovered that he was driving in the wrong direction. He was driving north and realized he wanted to go south. So he decided to correct his mistake by turning illegally from the fast lane on the northbound side to the fast lane on the southbound side by using a NO-U-TURN crossover.
The traffic was heavy on both sides of the Thruway and traveling along at 65 miles per hour. So the gentleman had to make his U-turn quickly. As he was making the sharp turn from north to south, the car stalled at a right angle to the oncoming traffic, blocking two lanes on the southbound side.
Our fully loaded station wagon was the first vehicle to come upon this dangerous situation. My husband was able to bring our car to a screeching stop within inches of the old gentleman’s car. His face had turned white with fear and his wife looked just as frightened, as he tried frantically to get the car started again.
Our oldest son was next behind us in his little car, and he was also able to stop. However, the cars behind him quickly switched over into the right lane, the only lane not blocked. This forced a heavily loaded U-Haul truck in that lane to careen off the fender of the car ahead of him and plunge down the steep embankment on his right, mowing down the young trees in his path.
The old gentleman finally roared his car into action, opening up the lanes he was blocking. Traffic once again filled the three lanes. But I wonder what happened to the poor folks and their belongings in that U-Haul truck, don’t you?
We can never disobey the guidelines that God gives us without affecting others. The Bible tells us in Romans 5:1919For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19) that “by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” That first man who disobeyed God was Adam, and the results of that first sin are still affecting each of us today: “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12).
You and I are sinners, not just because Adam committed the first sin, but because we also have committed many, many sins. God says that all sin (big or little) carries the penalty of death followed by punishment. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).
But God loves sinners, although He hates their sins. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to take your place and bear the punishment for your sins. The very next Bible verse says, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28).
The next step is yours - admit to God that you are a sinner and are sorry about your sins, and then accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as your very own Saviour.
Will you take that step? Will you accept God’s loving offer? “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
ML-04/10/1994