License Plate Brackets

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! (Psalm 119:1-8 ESV). Some years ago a new law in Texas was enacted. The gist of it is that any license plate bracket that covers any pertinent information that identifies the number or state of your registration is illegal. Even though most people had been informed about the law, a lot of people ignored it. The reasoning behind the law came through the necessity of being able to correctly identify photographs taken of license plates of vehicles running through red lights. There was quite an uproar at first. Many people felt that getting “caught” by a camera was not fair. It is a good law though. Anyone who ignores traffic signals is "an accident looking for a place to happen." Anyone cheating on red or stopping absentmindedly on green is a danger to himself and to others. Although a series of red lights can be a pain when you're eager to get to your destination, an accident can bring even greater pain. All of us have watched various intersections through the years and wondered why every busy corner didn’t have a light. It only takes witnessing one bad wreck at one of these unmarked intersections to appreciate the need! The same may be said in our lives. The Scriptures too have some "red lights" that should control our lives as Christians. They are the prohibitions against envy, pride, hatred, irreverence, lust, and selfishness. When the Holy Spirit alerts us to their presence, we should immediately hit the brakes. Likewise, as we move into the heavy traffic of daily living, we must quickly respond by obeying the "green" signals of kindness, humility, love, worship, and purity. God's stops and starts are designed to help us. We should be as fearful of ignoring a command of Scripture as we are of running a red light. Don’t wait until you have an “accident” to use caution. Stop at the dangerous intersections of life and look both ways before continuing on. It may save you a lot of trouble.