How to Avoid Speeding Tickets

I remember my first, and only, speeding ticket.  I was 16-years-old and had four friends in the car.  I was doing about 15 over the speed limit when the blue lights started flashing behind me.  My hopes of getting off with a warning vanished with the slip of paper the officer handed to me.  Not only was I embarrassed in front of my friends, but also the thought of facing my parents when I got home just about killed me.

No one likes getting a speeding ticket, or any ticket for that matter.  For this reason, a recent article titled, “10 Tips to Avoid Speeding Tickets” caught my attention.  As the article explains, motorists are often looked at as a source of revenue since 54 percent of all tickets are for speeding and add up to an estimated $2 billion in revenue every year.  Since this is the case, the article listed off ten ways to help avoid speeding tickets.  Some of them were to having situation awareness, being ready for speed traps, driving a less flashy car in the “slow lane,” and fighting every ticket in court.

Interestingly, there was one very important tip missing from this list.  If people want to avoid speeding tickets, then don’t speed.  It’s that simple.  Yes, there are some times when the speed limit drastically changes without warning with a cop waiting to nail you, but this is very rare.  The vast majority of people who get speeding tickets deserve them.  I know I deserved mine.

This article displays a sad mindset in our society.  Many are no longer concerned with “right and wrong” but simply if they get caught or not.  The article and other objects such as dash mounted radar detectors are designed to allow people to continue breaking the law without the consequences.  People are looking for ways they can get away with doing wrong.

Unfortunately, this mindset is creeping into the church as well.  Sometimes people do anything they can to sin without getting caught.  2 Corinthians talks about two different reactions people have towards doing wrong.  Listen to these words,  “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death” (7:10).

The “sorrow of the world” is talking about people who are just sorry they were caught.  They aren’t sorry they sinned.  Scripture says this type of sorrow produces death.  On the other side, “Godly sorrow” is talking about people who are deeply sorry they have sinned against God.  In this case, their sorrow causes them change their ways, whether they were actually caught and punished or not.  This type of sorrow leads to salvation.

Certainly we want to do everything we can to receive salvation.  Therefore, let’s choose Godly sorrow.  May we never be people who are trying to get away with doing wrong.  Let’s be people who are genuinely sorry, but also dedicated to changing our ways when we do wrong.

Thieves With A Conscience

A group of thieves broke into a building and stole computers and equipment.  What they didn’t know at the time was they were stealing from a non-profit organization that helps victims of sexual assault.  Once they discovered this, they felt bad for what they had done.  The following night, they brought back everything they stole in a shopping cart and even included a hand written apology note which said (grammatical mistakes included), “We had no idea what we were takeing.  Here your stuff back we hope that you guys can continue to make a differenence in peoples live.  God bless” (ABC Local).

First of all, it’s ironic that the same people who were sinning called for God’s blessings.  Aside from this, one wonders what was going through these thieves’ minds.  Did they think returning the items made everything OK?  Even though these robbers made a good decision in returning the stolen items, they were the ones who committed the felony in the first place.  Sometimes people misunderstand what true repentance is.  These thieves likely thought they were making things right and repenting of what they had done, even if they didn’t put it in so many words.  However, it’s clear this was not an action of repentance, but just a rare blip on the conscience meter.

What does true repentance really look like?  First, true repentance is a 180-degree turn (Acts 3:19).  A person who is walking towards sin completely changes direction, putting his back to sin, and begins walking towards God.  Second, true repentance is found in the person who is sickened by their actions and is committed to changing his ways (2 Corinthians 7:10).  After sinning with Bathsheba, David wrote a psalm that perfectly displays this point (Psalm 51).

It’s fairly easy to feel and act “sorry” for the things we have done.  Sometimes we will even go so far as to try and smooth things over with those we have wronged.  However, let’s keep in mind that true repentance is about a sincere 180-degree change, feeling guilty, and being committed and determined not to repeat past mistakes.  May we have the courage to repent and turn our backs to sin when the need arises.

The Difference Between "Change Of Heart" And "Remission"

Neal Pollard

In 1914, Firm Foundation published a book of sermons E.M. Borden preached in Neosho, Missouri.  At the end of the book is a section of extracts, including one entitled "Change of Heart and Remission."  In this short article, Borden writes, "One very common occurrence in this age of the world is for people to mistake a change of heart for the remission of sins" (307).  Later in the article, he adds, "There is a feeling that comes with the change of heart, which is the result of making up the mind to quit the wicked habits.  Too many times that is taken for salvation" (ibid.).  Borden's correct conclusion is that change of heart happens on earth, but remission of sins takes place in heaven in the mind of God.

No doubt, there are many today who come to church services and worship with us.  They are exposed to teaching that effects their heart and causes them to want to live better.  That change in how they view life and the world, that appreciation for Bible teaching, and the other good things they feel and experience are necessary things.  However, a changed outlook, mentality, or worldview, alone, will not change one's eternal destination.  However, the right state of heart and thinking will surely lead one to do what God says to do in order to receive His forgiveness.  

When does remission (or forgiveness) take place?  All we can do is trust scripture for the answer to this.  When people 2000 years ago first asked the question, "What shall we do?", they were told by Peter, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).  They had to repent, a change of heart leading to a change of life, and be baptized, immersed, in order for God to forgive them.  Mankind tries to complicate matters, but it is truly that simple.

The Hardest Step In The Plan Of Salvation

Neal Pollard

The Lord teaches with great clarity what a person must do to receive the benefits of His grace.  Repeatedly, the New Testament makes clear that belief in essential for being made right (Rom. 10:10a), to come to God (Heb. 11:6), and to be saved (Ac. 16:31).  Yet, faith or belief is not possible without the Word first being taught (Rom. 10:13-14, 17).  One must be accurately taught, and an honest heart will be open to God’s conditions.  We cannot begrudge God for setting conditions for us to receive what all of us needs but what none of us deserves nor what any of us can earn.

The New Testament reveals conditions other than faith. The Bible ties repentance to forgiveness of sins (Ac. 2:38; 5:31), life (Ac. 11:18), faith (Ac. 20:21), salvation (2 Cor. 7:10), and not perishing (2 Pe. 3:9).  These are all inescapably essential.  Further, Scripture shows a connection between confessing faith with Christ and salvation (Rom. 10:10).  The Ethiopian eunuch gives us an example of this (Ac. 8:37).  Added to these conditions is one other, clearly revealed condition strangely disputed by much of Christendom.  Baptism is inseparably tied to the following: forgiveness of sins (Ac. 2:38), sins being washed away (Ac. 22:16), being in Christ (Gal. 3:27), being in the “one body” (1 Cor. 12:13), the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and newness of life (Rom. 6:1-4), and salvation (1 Pe. 3:21).

Despite the unfathomable controversy in the religious world over the role of baptism in salvation, it is not, in my estimation, the hardest “step” in God’s saving plan.  While getting people to hear is hard, getting them to believer is harder, and getting them to submit to baptism is harder still, could anything be more difficult than repentance?  Repentance literally means to “change one’s mind” and “feel remorse, be converted” (BDAG, 640). Friberg and Miller add that its strict meaning is to “perceive afterward, with the implication of being too late to avoid consequences” with “a religious and ethical change in the way one thinks about acts” (260).

What a wrestling match!  It’s difficult to change our minds, which implies admission of wrong.  When we see only too late that we are sinners lost in sin, to both feel sorrow and resolve to make it right requires exceptional humility and tenderheartedness.  To change our ways, to turn away from sin and to God, is exceptionally difficult.  Repentance is involved in receiving salvation, but it is necessary for one after receiving it.  It is a lifelong process, requiring honesty, self-examination, self-denial, and sacrifice.  Yet, however difficult it is, in view of what God is offering it is worth the strain and effort!  How true are E.M. Bartlett’s words: “Just a little while to stay here, just a little while to wait, just a little while to labor in the path that’s always straight. Just a little more of trouble in this low and sinful state, then we’ll enter Heaven’s portals, sweeping through the pearly gates.”

Neal Pollard
The Lord teaches with great clarity what a person must do to receive the benefits of His grace.  Repeatedly, the New Testament makes clear that belief in essential for being made right (Rom. 10:10a), to come to God (Heb. 11:6), and to be saved (Ac. 16:31).  Yet, faith or belief is not possible without the Word first being taught (Rom. 10:13-14, 17).  One must be accurately taught, and an honest heart will be open to God’s conditions.  We cannot begrudge God for setting conditions for us to receive what all of us needs but what none of us deserves nor what any of us can earn.
The New Testament reveals conditions other than faith. The Bible ties repentance to forgiveness of sins (Ac. 2:38; 5:31), life (Ac. 11:18), faith (Ac. 20:21), salvation (2 Cor. 7:10), and not perishing (2 Pe. 3:9).  These are all inescapably essential.  Further, Scripture shows a connection between confessing faith with Christ and salvation (Rom. 10:10).  The Ethiopian eunuch gives us an example of this (Ac. 8:37).  Added to these conditions is one other, clearly revealed condition strangely disputed by much of Christendom.  Baptism is inseparably tied to the following: forgiveness of sins (Ac. 2:38), sins being washed away (Ac. 22:16), being in Christ (Gal. 3:27), being in the “one body” (1 Cor. 12:13), the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and newness of life (Rom. 6:1-4), and salvation (1 Pe. 3:21).
Despite the unfathomable controversy in the religious world over the role of baptism in salvation, it is not, in my estimation, the hardest “step” in God’s saving plan.  While getting people to hear is hard, getting them to believer is harder, and getting them to submit to baptism is harder still, could anything be more difficult than repentance?  Repentance literally means to “change one’s mind” and “feel remorse, be converted” (BDAG, 640). Friberg and Miller add that its strict meaning is to “perceive afterward, with the implication of being too late to avoid consequences” with “a religious and ethical change in the way one thinks about acts” (260).
What a wrestling match!  It’s difficult to change our minds, which implies admission of wrong.  When we see only too late that we are sinners lost in sin, to both feel sorrow and resolve to make it right requires exceptional humility and tenderheartedness.  To change our ways, to turn away from sin and to God, is exceptionally difficult.  Repentance is involved in receiving salvation, but it is necessary for one after receiving it.  It is a lifelong process, requiring honesty, self-examination, self-denial, and sacrifice.  Yet, however difficult it is, in view of what God is offering it is worth the strain and effort!  How true are E.M. Bartlett’s words: “Just a little while to stay here, just a little while to wait, just a little while to labor in the path that’s always straight. Just a little more of trouble in this low and sinful state, then we’ll enter Heaven’s portals, sweeping through the pearly gates.”