Rule-keepers & changing lanes

Sinful man has a way of using rules for selfish purposes. They may take advantage of those who find safety and security in keeping all the rules.

Rule keepers tend to be people pleasers by nature. As a result, they may never ask some of these simple questions:

• Are these rules created for my benefit?
• Are these rules designed to manipulate, control, or cover up something?
• Do these rules have a hidden agenda?
• Are these rules in place to protect me?
• Are these rules from God or from man?

Rule keepers tend to "stay in their lane". Most would never think of changing lanes because in their mind, changing lanes is bad. For fear of being viewed as a rebel, they may never even put on their blinker to signal that they are getting ready to change lanes.

However, we must understand that the God of the Bible is a reasonable God. He wants us to ask questions. He wants us to understand WHY we do something, or WHY we should not do something.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.

Reasoning involves asking questions.

Remember, Habbakuk? He was the prophet that asked WHY.

Habakkuk 1:3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

Then the prophet waits on God for the answer to his question: WHY?

Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

God proves throughout His word that it IS ok to ask questions.

Romans is full of God answering questions:

Romans 3:1-3 What advantage then hath the Jew?
...what profit is there of circumcision?
For what if some did not believe?
shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Romans 3:5-9 ...Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance?
...for then how shall God judge the world?
...why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
...Let us do evil, that good may come?
...What then? are we better than they?

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Romans 6:1-3 What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

If someone is a people pleaser, they may be afraid to ask certain questions to other people. But they DO NOT need to be afraid to bring their questions to God.

In 1 Kings 10:1 Solomon is pictured as a type of Christ and the queen of Sheba travels 1,500 miles to ask him HARD questions.

1 Kings 10:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

It's best to bring your hard questions to God now, even if you have to travel a long distance or wait on God for the answer. God promised in His word that He will reason with you until you understand truth. God wants you to get your hard questions answered.

Also, in your Christian walk, it's important to be around others who will welcome your hard questions.

If your questions aren't welcomed, are disregarded, or, if you're made to feel shamed because of your questions, it means you're around someone who isn't demonstrating the character of God. It's best you find someone else who will welcome your hard questions. It's the only way you'll learn and grown in the Lord.

Now put on your blinker, and start signaling to others that you're getting ready to change lanes. I trust the lane you change into would bring you into a closer and deeper relationship with God.