Maybe you know someone like this, someone who drives down the road and then slams on the brakes when they see a cop car sitting on the side of the road. I bet you know someone who does this. Now, do you know anyone who doesn't do this? Who just keep going the same speed?
This could be two kinds of people, the person who has no respect for the law (a bold choice), or the person who knows they are driving under the speed limit. I've never quite been bold enough to speed past a police officer with no regard to the consequences, but I can imagine this attitude has sustainability concerns. It seems fraught with complications and risk. I think most people who want to speed get those radar detectors and such to reduce the risk of a large fine or losing their license. It's a way of reducing the stress involved with living outside of the bounds of the law.
Much of life is like this. Showing up late to work, hiding a spending habit from a spouse, lying about your age or credentials, etc. all come with a sense of stress as we try to not get caught. Consider how much energy, creativity, ingenuity and skill it can take to maintain a false perception of the reality. The cognitive load alone should be a strong motivator to come clean and move toward a life of integrity.
I've tasted the relief of quitting the charade. It feels like you don't have to live two lives. I feel more whole and less stressed and worried about being caught. Each time when I would have had to engage in the cover up I could heave a big sigh of relief. It's like when you see the cop too late to slow down and you know you're caught, only you look down and see you are going the speed limit.
Living under God's law is like this. Many people feel like there are too many rules and that religion is too much about behavior control, but I hope that this post helps you realize that boundaries are meant to feel good, and even freeing. David writes a whole, and very long song (Psalm 119), about how much he loves the laws of God. He understood.
When you feel the freedom of living within the bounds, you realize that living outside the bounds feels more like captivity.
Comentários