Speed Limit Signs

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Romans 3:19-20)

            Throughway driving can be such a bother. I’ll grant that sometimes the same thing happens on local streets, but it’s on the highway that I notice it most. As I drive along the onramp, trying to make sure no one is in my blind spot, trying to match speeds with the traffic with which I want to merge, trying to find a spot big enough to merge into, and thinking about where I’m trying to go; invariably I don’t see a speed limit sign. I’m not sure the stupid things are even there but if they are, who can pay attention to a sign when there are so many more urgent matters? One I get settled into my place in traffic, I keep an eye out and I always seem to be going too fast or too slow. It doesn’t help that the highways near my home seem to require unending work. 

            The thing is, if the speed limit isn’t posted, how do you know? I know that previous experience and general knowledge of the law helps but until I see the sign, I don’t know for absolute certain which of the bears in Goldilocks I am emulating: too fast, too slow, just right. 

            Something else I’ve noticed… police never pull you over to compliment your driving and hand you a reward for being the ‘just right” bear. I don’t know which emotion would win the duel if they did: pride or joy for having gotten a prize for doing it right or irritation with the time wasted. I bet if a state began a lottery system in which at some random place and time, the state police handed out a thousand-dollar prize to someone found doing the speed limit, lots of cruise controls would be set to it.

            Getting back to the issue of the speed limit signs. When I see one, I check my speedometer. When I see the state police cruiser in the median, I check my speed. When I see something that says “LAW” I check and correct my behavior. It is then that I become conscious of that behavior. There are times when I haven’t seen the reminder, or when it’s been too long since I saw it when I wonder whether I’m doing the speed limit, but unless I think I’m going way too fast, it doesn’t result in a correction.

            This is the situation we face with God, as well. The purpose of the law was not to give us a means to earn rewards, it was to make us aware of our unrighteousness. When it causes us to check and correct our behavior, often, it’s to a “speed” that is, well, close; a speed that the police don’t generally give tickets for (about five mph above the posted limit.) We are happy with being a little too fast or too slow because “just right” is boring and frustrating. In our boredom, we ignore our freedom and safety. In our frustration, we lash out at the Law and the Law Giver.

           Just as we don’t expect the police to hand us checks or gift cards for driving the speed limit, we shouldn’t expect God to reward us for approximate good behavior. But we do, don’t we?