Mr. Peters lived in New York City. Usually when he was driving around town, traffic was so heavy that he did not bother to check if the traffic lights were red or green before he crossed an intersection. He just pushed his way through the crowd of cars and taxis along with everyone else.
One day Mr. Peters was driving in the suburbs with Mr. Grant, a friend. Mr. Peters was talking excitedly to Mr. Grant, telling him a story. Mr. Grant suddenly interrupted, “Hey,” he shouted, “you just went through a red light!”
Mr. Peters looked in his rearview mirror. Sure enough, he had just driven right through a red light. Rather embarrassed, he apologized to Mr. Grant, “I’m so sorry ... this is the first time I’ve ever done that! I don’t ever remember going through a red light before!”
It was true that Mr. Peters did not remember, since he hardly ever noticed what color the traffic lights were. Then he went on with the story he had been telling.
Suddenly Mr. Grant broke in again. “Uh, you just went through another red light!”
Horrified, Mr. Peters looked back again. Yes, he certainly had driven right through another red light! He shook his head. “I can hardly believe this,” he said seriously. “The first time I’ve ever gone through a red light, and now I’ve done it twice in one day!”
Mr. Peters was mistaken. He had gone through many red lights, but he did not realize it because he never paid attention to them. Going through red lights is sin—it’s illegal. God says, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord [carefully examines] the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2).
Sometimes we need someone to point out our mistakes, especially sinful ones. We like to think that others have made worse mistakes and that they are the ones who need the help. We need to remember that God looks at each of us differently than how we see each other. He sees and knows all about you and me and our sins and says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). He also says, “[How] shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to [God’s] Word” (Psalm 119:9). The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ died and shed His blood to wash away sins. He is patiently waiting in love for all who will turn to Him in faith and accept Him as their Savior.
Are your sins washed away?
ML-04/14/2019