Adventures in Christian Living
Keith Newell

Last month I found myself driving through a quaint, sleepy little town. It was complete with metered parking running the entire length of its Main Street. While there, I spotted the local hardware store and remembered two Items I needed. Specifically, I was in dire need of a can of WD-40 (lubricant spray) and two bolts to complete a project I had been working on. As luck would have it, there was an open parking space directly in front of the store.

Once I parked, my search began for coins to put in the meter. I searched high and low but struck out. Nothing in my pockets, the glove compartment, the seats or the floor. I was completely without change! I decided to go in and get what I needed anyhow. I knew it wouldn't take me long to purchase my things.

Everything worked as planned. I searched for the WD-40 while the kind, older gentleman who ran the hardware store picked up the bolts. Even after exchanging pleasantries concerning the greatness of WD-4O, I still made it out of the hardware store in less than five minutes.

I'm sure you've already figured this out...but by the time I returned to my truck, there was a bright red parking ticket stuck under my windshield wiper.

"You have got to be kidding me. I wasn't even in there for five minutes!" I grumbled to myself.

Truthfully, it didn't matter how long I was there. To park in that specific space, I was required to put money into the meter. I knew the rule, yet I didn't obey. I felt I had "good" or "valid" excuses, but that didn't change the fact that I knew the rule and didn't obey it.

I began to calm down as I drove down the road. It wasn't long until I began making analogies between my parking experience and how some people view God's Word. Unfortunately there are those who obey some of God's commands but not all of them. Like myself, they make excuses, trying to justify not obeying all His commands. They say things like...

"I give a lot of money to God, plus I donate to various charities through out the year. I don't think it's a big deal if I bend the truth a little bit on my taxes." (1 Peter 3:10-12, Colossians 3:8-10)

"I'm a good person and I read the bible every day. The fact that I'm gay is of no concern to God! He loves me no matter what "lifestyle" I choose." (Jude 7, Romans 1:24-27)

"I've been having an affair with a woman who attends church services faithfully. We make such a good pair and we both love God so much. God would be okay with me leaving my non-Christian wife for her." (Galatians 5:19-21, Exodus 20:14)

As odd as it sounds, people disobey God's commands in order to make themselves feel better. They want to be a Christian and they want to be saved. However, they don't want to give up certain sinful aspects of their life. Therefore they make excuses in an attempt to justify their sin.