Rebellion

This morning as I was coming to work on West Kellogg, the traffic was moderate.  I usually drive the speed limit, which means that everyone goes around me and there is a lot of room in front of me.  I never have to worry about following someone too closely.

I noticed a hundred yards or so in front of me in the center lane a vehicle that would periodically flash brake lights.  On Kellogg one always looks ahead for that, which often means a general slow-down of traffic, or at minimum some kind of traffic issue.  As I watched for a few seconds, however, it was apparent that the driver was following another vehicle very closely and was braking from time to time so as to not ram into the rear of the other vehicle.  Even when presented with an opportunity to change lanes and pass the “offending” vehicle, the driver continued behind this vehicle at a very close range, flashing his brake lights from time to time.

I have to wonder what the fascination is with driving up to the tail of another vehicle and going 65 miles an hour down an expressway, only 15 or 20 feet behind.  I see it constantly.

If I am in the center lane doing the speed limit, and a vehicle is behind me, often it will be content with staying there, a few car lengths behind me.  However, if I change lanes, I can bet money on (and win the bet) the fact that the vehicle will speed up by several miles an hour until it gets to the next vehicle ahead of me; then do the same thing…stay a few car-lengths behind.

Could someone explain to me what the rationale is behind this behavior?  I really don’t get it.  I fail to understand any reason, logical or not, that would cause someone to behave in this way.  In my mind, it is a much more pleasant driving experience, and a lot less stressful, to have a quarter mile of empty lane in front of me than to have 15 feet of empty lane in front of me as I travel 60 miles an hour.  It’s much less stressful to NOT have to brake every 15 seconds to avoid hitting someone, and it’s much more pleasant to NOT have to change lanes every ¼ mile in order to gain an extra 40 or 50 feet of travel.

Additionally, every time someone changes lanes, they open themselves to liability if an accident should occur.  Every time someone tailgates, they open themselves to liability if an accident should occur.  Every time someone exceeds the speed limit, they open themselves to liability if an accident should occur.  Why would anyone consciously do those things for no decent reason other than they are in a hurry, or they want to demonstrate some kind of superiority, or they wish to intimidate someone else through driving practices, or draw attention to themselves?

Or maybe it’s that, “I want to be in control,” attitude that seems prevalent in the lives of humans.  And when I’m not in control, then I get nervous and I tailgate.  I change lanes to try to bring back some semblance of control.  Or I speed down the freeway because, “I can do whatever I want to do…I’m in charge here.”

Let’s get one thing straight.  God reigns.  God reigns.  And because God reigns, I don’t, I can’t, I won’t, and I shouldn’t.  God reigns.  God is sovereign.  God is in charge.  And yes, that even applies to traffic laws and rules.  God, the ultimate Authority, establishes governments and gives them the authority to maintain the peace and quiet of society.  Anyone who rebels against government (I don’t care what the speed limit is…I want to drive the speed I want to drive, so I will.) rebels against God (Romans 12:2).  It’s that serious.

And because it’s that serious, God did something serious to mitigate our rebellion.  He sent His Son to pay the price for us and reconcile us to Him.  And he told us through Paul that although His grace is plentiful and abundant, we are not to continue to sin just so God’s grace can abound.  Instead, we are to live lives in which others see that we “fear God and honor the King.”

So, how are you doing in that department?  If you’re like most of us, you have more work to do.  And, although we’ll never be perfect in this life, we can, because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, be accounted as righteous before God.  And because of the work of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives, we can even now…even in this life…become more and more like the One who has saved us and brought us out of death.