Guest Article - June 12, 2006

Warning Tickets

by Alan Smith

Someone recently sent me a list of police comments that reportedly were taken from actual police car videos around the country. Here are some of my favorites . . .

1. "Relax; the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll
stretch out after you wear them awhile."

2. "If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."

3. "Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? In case you didn't
know, that is the average speed of a 9 mm bullet fired from my
gun."

4. "So you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I
can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?"

5. "Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think
it will help. Oh, did I mention that I am the shift supervisor?"

6. "The answer to this last question will determine whether you are
drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?"

7. "No, sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas,
but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want."

8. "I'm glad to hear the Chief of Police is a good personal friend of
yours. At least you know someone who can post your bail."

9. "You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we
don't. Sign here."

10. "Warning? You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do
that again or I'll give you another ticket."

That last comment reminds me of how I think a lot of people view God.
You see, I've never quite understood something. We live in a country
where (believe it or not) most people say they believe in God. And most
people (according to polls that have been taken) say they believe in
heaven and hell. So, why does it seem that so few people have a faith
that demonstrates itself in the way they live? My theory is that a lot
of people see God as a police officer who looks for faults in our
lives, but, because He is such a "good" God, he only gives warning
tickets.

I think a lot of people picture judgment day going something like this:
"Sir, I clocked you exceeding the limit with lustful thoughts and
sinful actions in a purity zone. Then I clocked you exceeding the limit
with materialism in a contentment zone. Then I clocked you exceeding
the limit with resentment in a forgiveness zone. But I tell you what
I'm going to do. I'm going to just let you off with a warning this
time, so go ahead and enter the gates of heaven. Just don't do it
anymore!"

Don't misunderstand me. God is a God of love, grace and forgiveness.
But it is a forgiveness found only in the blood of Jesus Christ. It is
a grace that should make a difference in the way we live. And we dare
not forget that God is also a God of justice and righteousness. We may
be receiving some "warning tickets" in our lives right now, but if we
continue to live our lives in a refusal to follow Him, the day is
coming when the penalty will be much more severe.

"Since you are stubborn and don't want to change the way you think and
act, you are adding to the anger that God will have against you on that
day when God vents his anger. At that time God will reveal that his
decisions are fair. He will pay all people back for what they have
done. He will give everlasting life to those who search for glory,
honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good. But he will
bring anger and fury on those who, in selfish pride, refuse to believe
the truth and who follow what is wrong." (Romans 2:5-8, GOD'S WORD)

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(c) 2006 Alan Smith <Alan.Smith@whcoc.com>. Used by permission.
This devotional was reprinted from Thought for the Day
<http://www.TFTD-online.com>.

RELATED LINKS:
* The Only Defense on the Day of Judgment
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200111/20011103_defense.html
* Just in Case
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200505/20050526_justincase.html
* Thought for the Day
http://www.TFTD-online.com

This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200605/20060527_warningtickets.html