As for Me and My HouseНамуна

Pulled Over

The traffic light turned red a moment before I drove through the intersection. 

While I made it through without hitting anyone, any relief I might have felt was quickly replaced with terror when police lights filled my rearview mirror. 

Crime in my neighborhood had reached a desperate level. The police, trying to find a way to regain order, implemented a “Stop and frisk” policy. This meant they could stop anyone, for any reason, and search them for illegal drugs. 

Most of the time, the cops knew who the bad guys were and would get it right, but not always. There were plenty of stories about innocent people caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. A few months earlier, the neighborhood had erupted in violence when a young, unarmed Hispanic teen was shot and killed by the police. Everyone was on edge. 

With the lights flashing behind me, I began to wonder if getting a ticket was the least of my worries. What if they wanted to search my car? What if I reached for my wallet and the cop mistook it for a gun?

Paul said in Romans 13:3, “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval.” 

I knew this Scripture, but at that moment, I looked a lot like one of the bad guys. Somehow, I needed to make this officer understand my criminal behavior didn’t go any further than accidentally running a red light. 

I pulled over as fast as I could and waited, my hands clutching the steering wheel. As he got out of his car, I struggled to find the right lie to get me out of this situation. When he finally made it to my window, 1 Peter 2:17 echoed in my mind, “Honor everyone.”

“I’m sorry, officer. I thought I could make the light,” I said, while holding out my license, registration, and insurance card.

He took my documents and after what seemed like an eternity, told me to be more careful. And to my surprise, he didn’t give me a ticket for running the light. 

I was stunned. He had me, yet he chose to let me go. Somehow, through honoring his authority over me, admitting my guilt, and quietly accepting my fate, he was able to see I wasn’t one of the bad guys after all.

The next time you’re pulled over, remember to show honor. You may not get out of a ticket, but through your actions, you can serve the Lord.

For more help read, “What Does It Take To Change?” on FamilyLife.com.