In recent years, many car drivers have installed dashboard cameras, so that, if they are involved in an accident, the footage can be used to help establish liability. The trend has also been taken up by some cyclists, who have cameras fitted, not only for use in case of accidents, but also for recording careless driving by motorists. The photographic evidence is then forwarded to the authorities, and those who pose a danger to cyclists can be prosecuted, even if no collision has occurred. A couple of years ago, a cyclist in Ireland successfully implicated two drivers by this method. However, to his dismay, the investigators, on examining his video, found that he too had been guilty of breaking the law during his journey, and he was prosecuted, along with the drivers he had filmed.
In the early chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, Paul shows how people are guilty of having broken, not the laws of the road, but the Law of God: the holy, righteous standard that He demands of all mankind. In Romans 2.1-3, Paul addresses someone who criticises others for their misdeeds, but who, in doing this, is condemning himself, for he does "the same things". He states that God will judge everyone according to righteous principles, and that no-one should think that he will "escape the judgment of God". Like the cyclist, we may try to pronounce others guilty, but in so doing we are declaring our own guilt, for "there is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3.10. "What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3.19,22,23. We are all "without excuse" Romans 1.20, and deserve "wrath, tribulation and anguish" Romans 2.9.
What is your attitude to this cyclist? Maybe you feel a little sorry for him, but also that ‘it serves him right’, for condemning others, while failing to see his own guilt. I doubt if anyone tried to contact him, or the two guilty drivers, to offer to pay their fines! How different is God’s attitude to us! We all have sinned against Him, but He did not take the position that ‘they will be punished, and it serves them right!’ He did not even just ‘feel a little sorry’ for us, and leave us to our plight, to suffer forever in the Lake of Fire for our sins. No: He had deep pity for us, and He took action to rescue us. This was not a simple matter, like posting off a payment to cover a traffic fine: it was very costly, necessitating "God sending His own Son" Romans 8.3, into the world. Jesus Christ is the only Person Who has ever lived who has the right to pronounce sentence on others, for He is sinless, and yet, in love, He went to Calvary, to bear the judgment for us: "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5.8.
It was an unpleasant surprise to the cyclist to find out that he was guilty, and had to pay for it. Perhaps it has been a shock to you to read that you are guilty of more serious crimes, against a much greater authority (God), and are subject to His righteous judgment. However, if you repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again, you will be saved from the punishment for your sins, declared righteous, and sure of Heaven. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" Romans 5.1,9.
Written by a guest blogger.
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