Coloring within the Lines

I happen to live in the great State of Tennessee. Although I am a transplanted Yankee, I am delighted that the Lord led Allen and me to live here. I have been blessed with finding a wonderful church, family, and friends.

However, there’s one pet peeve that constantly irks me: the tendency for the big, fast farm trucks (you know who you are!) to recklessly cross the center yellow lines when the drivers think they are the only ones on the road. It’s bad enough when they do this on four-lane highways, or on broad main streets; a careful driver will swing to avoid contact, and go peacefully on his or her way. However, Tennessee has many more back country roads than straight city roads. They twist and turn around fields (often swaying with chest-high corn) and small hills. The shoulders on these roads are barely wide enough to accommodate a pig, much less a large car trying to avoid an accident. On some occasions, I have been startled to be presented with a near-miss situation – the other driver seldom seems to realize the danger that he / she has put others in.

“What does it matter?” I hear you say. It doesn’t – unless you are the one involved in the collision and is severely injured. And then there are all sorts of “explanations” why the guilty driver crossed the line – and the victim is dragged into a long court battle over being compensated for some of the pain and trouble thrust upon him or her.

Why am I ranting about under-cautious drivers? I’m not. I’m about to launch into my real point: the fact that this kind of thing is indicative of what many, many people basically believe: If God’s not there (or He’s not watching), why should it matter if anyone breaks the law or takes chances with someone else’s life or property? There’s no policeman around, so who’s to assign guilt?

It matters – oh, it matters.

It matters that many people today basically regard the law – even a small thing like staying on one’s own side of the road – as something arbitrary or ego-centric. It matters that one cannot accurately predict the consequences of one’s actions; only God sees all the factors and outcomes – past, present, and future.

The reason why this essay is entitled “Coloring within the Lines” is this: Just as a parent encourages a five-year-old to color carefully and to stay within the lines drawn for the picture he or she is coloring, God has designed a Big Picture for society. The Big Picture involves accepting the basic truth of the Ten Commandments:

God is paramount. He cannot and will not give up His throne to any other entity.

Manmade idols come between God and an orderly, law-full world. They block the Son of God’s perfect work on the Cross.

God’s name is holy and pure – and that includes His law. Nothing can adulterate it or set it aside.

A God-centered week includes a day of rest and restoration – whether it’s on Saturday or on Sunday.

God is the One Who places a living soul in the womb of each and every pregnant woman. He is completely intentional about His creation; He expects a man to be a husband to the woman who gives birth to his child. Furthermore, the child is to be obedient to the parents, even if they are not perfect. (God’s Word, however, is quite clear that the child is not the “property” of the parents to do with as they please; they must follow God’s plan for families.)

Neither man nor woman is authorized to terminate another human being’s life – including one in the womb. (We can talk about legal retribution for murder another time.)

God says to commit to one marriage partner – man and woman, not multiple combinations – for life.

God says to keep your hands off of things that belong to other people; in other words, He is not the author of “entitlement” theories.

God says to stick to the truth – even about your own mistakes. Getting other people in trouble by lying is never justified by God.

Material items are gifts from God; if you feel you are being shortchanged in anything, talk to Him about it. Working to take over what belongs to another person – even when it comes to “taking your half out of the middle of the road” – will only lead to collisions with others.

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Did a certain agency who raided a certain former president’s home color within the lines? As more and more information about that incident comes out, the answer is: Apparently not.

Has the government colored within the lines during the pandemic? As more and more information comes out about the one-sided shenanigans pushed by certain politicians, the answer is: Apparently not.

Has a certain former-vice-president kept faith with his inauguration oath? As more and more information comes out about large sums of money directed towards his bank account from foreign powers, the answer is: Apparently not.

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Coloring within the lines produces clear and pleasing pictures of life here in earth. Doing a sloppy job – using the crayon wherever and whenever one feels like it – produces tragic results for society.