On New Year’s Day, my wife Lynda and I, drove to Las Vegas to shop at our favorite store: Camping World™. On the trip over, and the return trip to Kingman, the traffic was heavy; and because of the celebration many had the night before, the police and state troopers were out in force. We encountered eight instances in which motorists were stopped for excessive speed.
If you have ever received a speeding ticket, you know of the irritation. First, there is the embarrassment that comes from you own wrong-doing; second is the painfulness of the cost imposed; and third, there is the blame you want to bestow upon the officer who is only doing his job and keeping the law he has sworn to uphold.
Some years ago, I received a ticket for failure to stop when making a left turn onto a one-way street. My first reaction was to be angry at the policeman because he was lying in wait behind a bridge railing, just for me! But then I realized he was not waiting just for me; he was waiting for anyone (whomever it might be) who would break the law. I soon got over my upset when I realized that the laws of the land were given for a distinct purpose: that we might all live a safe and secure life.
We live in a day where lawlessness abounds. Due to the self-centeredness of many people, we have become a law unto ourselves. It sickens me whenever I see law enforcement officers being physically abused such as when they have had people throwing milkshakes, water and even urine at them while their hands are tied by politicians. The law enforcement officers of any kind should be respected and prayed for as they risk their own lives for each of us.
The Scriptures even have something to say about those who keep the civil law. In Romans 13:1-5 Paul wrote: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore, you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.”
Without question, the laws are not given because those in authority and judgment don’t want us to have any fun in life, but so that we might be protected from hurting ourselves and others. Our law enforcement officers are deserving of our respect. Kingman has some of the finest!
- Pastor Jerry L. Dunn, Oak Street Baptist Church
