TWO-TENTHS

I Was Just Thinking About – TWO-TENTHS.

Life expectancy is dependent on the heart-beat of an individual. It is a simple logical conclusion that if the heart stops beating, life is ended. It’s a given that medically life is measured by the brain. When functionality has ceased, a person is pronounced dead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention give leading causes of death. “In 2015, the 10 leading causes of death (heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, unintentional injuries, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia, kidney disease, and suicide). The 10 leading causes accounted for 74.2% of all deaths in the United States in 2015. Surprisingly, there are two other causes that are often overlooked, namely, foolishness and defiance.

I live in an area where two busy highways intersect. The four-lane road has a speed reduction requirement and the two-lane road has a full stop requirement. For a variety of reasons, that intersection was the scene of several accidents, injuries and deaths. The State finally stepped in with a remedy that so far seems to be working well. The local citizens objected and the arm-chair engineers offered their solution. However, the State proceeded with their plan. The two-lane crossing the four-lane no longer exists. Safe turn-arounds are well marked and concrete guidelines, along with signs indicate where one can safely drive and turn.

That’s where this two-tenths enters, along with foolishness and defiance. Some citizens are failing to follow the well-marked guidelines. Some drive across the Median whereas others drive over the concrete. No U-Turn signs are clearly posted but that does not deter the foolish, defiant or stubborn. After all, they have their rights, don’t they? They don’t have to follow the law or conduct themselves wisely and safely, do they?

A question that should be considered is what is one’s life worth? Is it worth two-tenths. What about the safety of others? What about the cost of a fine for disobeying the Law? In context, all a person has to do to be safer and legal is to drive two-tenths of a mile out of their way. How long does it take to drive two-tenths of a mile? Maybe 15 seconds!

There is an obvious spiritual application here. Why do people push the envelope when it comes to God’s Law and instruction? James 2:10 states: “Whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” The NLT plainly indicates: “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.” It seems as though we are becoming a stubborn and rebellious generation (See: Psalm 78:8). Nehemiah 9:29 (NLT) states: “You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.” Is this what the behavior of this nation is becoming?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me!

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