Subject: Headlights in the rain?

When the Alabama law requiring that "headlights be turned on while it's raining" was passed, as a police officer at the time, I thought "what a waste of taxpayer money to even write such a thing! What good will that do? If anything is needed, lower the speed limit by 10 mph when it's raining, at least that would lessen the danger!" I never saw what good headlights would do, so I thought it was a dumb law, though I did obey it.

As I've driven in to work a few days in the past week, it's been raining, and of course the majority of people have had their headlights on. God turned my thoughts this way, "lights may not make people drive differently and quit acting foolishly (in fact most drive just as fast and tailgate just as much!) but they might remind others that an added danger is there, in the form of wet, slick roads.

God reminded me that as a retired police lieutenant, it's no longer my job to make people drive slower or safer, or ensure they obey the law. It is my responsibility as a citizen to obey the law myself and drive with my headlights on in the rain, as a warning to others. I may not think it's the best or most effective thing to do, but it's what I'm supposed to do.

Jesus said to us, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and then cover it up with an over turned basket, but they hold it up high so every one else can benefit from its light." (Matthew 5:14-15 in my words). We, as believers, may not think our light is very effective. We, as God's children, are just told to shine our light and hold it high so everyone can benefit. We are not responsible for whether or not they respond to our warnings, we are just to be faithful and shine. We also are not to cover over our light by acting and talking just like the unbelievers. No one benefits from that. We are to "let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!"

Quit worrying about whether or not others are doing what they are supposed to, or not. Quit worrying about whether or not God knows what HE's doing in telling you to be a witness for Him. Just do what you're supposed to do, obey Him. Think, talk, and live as God's child. God, and the people you witness to, are responsible for what happens after that.

THIS WORLD IS IN A DOWNPOUR OF SIN. PEOPLE ARE ON DANGEROUS ROADS. TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON.

                           Ben