No Excuse

No Excuse

(Read Romans 3:19-23)

“Come on, Shannon!” Nicole urged her older sister. “You can make the light.”

Shannon grinned. “OK. Hang on!” With a burst of speed, they went through the traffic light just after it turned red.

Shannon groaned as she noticed a police car in the rearview mirror. Nicole turned, and she saw it, too. She felt guilty as she remembered how she had urged Shannon to go through the changing light. They pulled to the side of the road in response to the flashing police signal, and the officer approached their car. Soon the policeman was driving away, leaving the girls staring at the traffic ticket Shannon held in her hand.

When the girls’ parents learned about the ticket, Shannon made excuses. “I don’t see why that policeman couldn’t have just overlooked it,” she said. “If the light was red, it had only just turned! Besides, all I did is go through that one little red light when no cars were coming anyway! It’s not like I robbed a bank or murdered somebody.”

Mom shook her head. “It was foolish and dangerous and wrong to go through a changing light,” she said. “You broke the law, and now you have to pay.”

“That’s right,” agreed Dad as he looked at the ticket. “Your excuses remind me of people who think they aren’t bad enough to miss heaven. They think they don’t need to be saved from their sins. But everyone who is honest has to admit he’s done at least one wrong thing. So he’s a lawbreaker, and the fine must be paid.” Dad handed the ticket back to Shannon. “You’ll have to pay this fine yourself—but, thank God, Jesus already has paid the fine for your sins.” PR

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you think you can get into heaven just because you haven’t done very many wrong things? Have you ever told one lie? Disobeyed just once? Had a bad thought? Done just one wrong thing? Then God says you’re guilty—you’ve broken his law. Only Jesus could pay the “fine.” He did this on the cross. Talk to a trusted friend or adult if you have more questions about what having a relationship with Jesus means.

One Wrong Brings Guilt

MEMORIZE:

“And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God’s laws.” James 2:10