Grace or Justice? Which do you prefer?

Do you want deferred disposition or grace?  When you are given a citation for exceeding the posted legal speed limit, you have 5 choices and not one of those choices is grace.  The choices are to pay the penalty and plea: guilty, no contest, not guilty, request defensive driving, or request deferred disposition.  How do I know this?  Why am I proposing this question?  Well, to be vulnerable and to be truthful, yes, I was stopped and given a citation last Tuesday as I was driving myself home from ladies Bible study.  Yes, I admit it.  I even admit that I truly deserved more tickets or citations than just that one.  I drive over the posted speed limit way too often, more than I want to admit but I am guilty.  I just haven’t been stopped or ticketed in a very long time.  This was a wake up call for me and it was far less a penalty than I truly deserve.  I have a good clean driving record and the last two times I was pulled over for driving too fast, I was only given a warning.  The last time I was heavy footed driving North on Beltline Rd headed to work at Grand Prairie High School.  I am notorious for running late.  That’s no excuse and I deserved a ticket.  I have sped on that road many times running late to work and to church.  That officer extended grace to me when he gave me a warning instead of giving me what I really deserved.  The time before that I was driving home to San Angelo to be with mom who had Leukemia back in 2009.  Again, I was driving over the speed limit West of Ballinger and the DPS officer who stopped me only gave me a warning, not what I truly deserved, a ticket or citation.  The penalty for me driving that fast was not given instead that officer extended grace to me. 

After I got home, and thought through my sin, my offense, and the much-deserved penalty for my action of speeding, I knew I needed to let my handsome husband know what had occurred.  I decided to text him because that is our usual way of communicating throughout the typical weekday.  I texted him the following: “Well, I guess I’m going to be taking defensive driving or requesting deferred adjudication.”  My kind and handsome husband reminded me that reminded me that he was stopped recently by one of our outstanding Grand Prairie, Texas police officers and only given a warning, he was given grace, he loved me, that it was ok, and said for me to call him when I could.  I don’t deserve him either!  He’s the wisest, kindest, and most handsome man I know! 

That evening we discussed the choices I had, researched the various defensive driving options and even asked our insurance agent if they still give benefits to policyholders who take defensive driving.  Bill was willing to take it with me if we could both turn in proof of defensive driving for a benefit on our car insurance!  Apparently there are comedy classes for defensive driving now complete with a meal!  After considering all factors we chose for me to simply pay the fine and request “deferred disposition”. 

This occurrence stimulated some reflective thinking on my part.  Getting stopped and then ticketed by the officer, forced me to realize I had to be vigilant to drive within the speed limit and to admit to myself that I often have been speeding without realizing it and without getting stopped or punished.  I deserved many more tickets that just this one.  How many times do I drive even just 5 miles over the posted legal speed limit without even giving it a thought?  When I do, and every time I have, I was breaking the law, committing an OFFENSE.  An offense is an act punishable by law. I had gone unpunished for way too long.  If I had to pay a fine for every time I had driven and exceeded the speed limit, I’m sure I could not afford to pay that fine! 

Speeding is a sin and just one action that is a sin.  Many other actions and thoughts are sin.  SIN is an act that is regarded by theologians as a transgression of God’s will.   GRACE is a disposition of kindness and compassion; the free UNMERITED favor or beneficence of God.  My handsome husband says that GRACE is God’s riches at Christ’s Expense.  We as carnal men and women, are sinful.  Sin separates us from God because God cannot look on sin.  God is perfect and he demands perfection and holiness. God is also a just God and demands a penalty for our sins. God sent Jesus to earth to die for us, to pay the penalty for OUR sins.  Jesus willingly became the sacrifice when he allowed himself to be put to death on our behalf as He willingly paid the price to save us from death and from eternal separation from God.  Because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf we don’t even have to ask for “deferred disposition” or take a class or even pay a monetary fine!  We are instead given GRACE and we are not punished for our sins!  We are seen by God, through Jesus as innocent and sin free if we have accepted Christ’s free gift of grace on our behalf and we have accepted His payment for OUR sin! How marvelous!  How undeserved.  How thankful I am that Jesus paid that huge penalty, that enormous eternal fine for me, for you, for everyone who accepts it. 

I so deserved many more speeding tickets and I could not afford to pay for all the fines I really deserve.  Is anyone else willing to admit this?  As I now drive around, at exactly the speed limit and watch everyone else fly by and pass me on the road, I stay the course, I have 90 days now to not get a ticket or I will suffer the consequences of having this ticket go on my record.  I am thankful for the wake up call, the stop, the ticket, and the conscientious officer who stopped me.  Furthermore, I have a renewed appreciation for God’s GRACE, for Jesus sacrifice for me and His willingness to pay for my sins and pay the penalty, take the punishment for my transgressions on my behalf.  I could never afford to pay this penalty myself and I could never meet the requirements of being perfect and without sin to get into heaven on my own merit. 

Also, thank you officer for serving our community. Thank you for helping me reach a new awareness of my actions and see how I need to improve my driving habits.  I am safer and others are safer if I slow down and abide by the law.  The officer actually thanked me for being so courteous before he concluded citing me and then thoroughly explained to me how to keep this off my record!  I guess many citizens aren’t courteous and respectful to our stellar GP officers?  We really do have the best police force in Texas and I’m not being sarcastic.  Our new chief is wonderful and our force is truly top notch. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.