At the church, we’ve been having troubles with our septic system, and we’ve undertaken several steps (some not yet completed) that will hopefully, upon completion, address the situation and keep stuff flowing properly for years to come. One of the issues that we’ve needed to address is having vehicles, including golf carts, driving all over the church lawn. Unfortunately, the cumulative effect of vehicles driving over the gently-sloped line from the bathrooms to the septic tank had eliminated some of the slope that the pipe initially had allowed gravity to help keep the line clear. Further, those same vehicles driving over the drain field have compacted the area so that it doesn’t drain effectively, requiring a significant repair effort (the part that isn’t done yet).
To alleviate the issue created by vehicle traffic, signs were recently installed at different locations telling people to please not drive on the church lawn. However, with people being who we are, I stood on the church porch and watched as someone drove straight past the sign and onto the lawn. I called out, as politely as I could, asked them to please stop, and pointed out the sign to them. This person, who was very familiar with the church, apologized and pointed out that they hadn’t even seen the sign – even though it was clearly posted and easy to see. They then turned and went the proper way.
In life, we sometimes wonder how people didn’t see the signs of something that, in hindsight, seemed so obvious. I think that this example provides a clue, in that this person was so accustomed to doing things the way that they had been doing them that they simply weren’t looking for new information. The thing that (hopefully) would have been obvious to a first-time visitor was essentially invisible to someone who had spent years being at that exact location prior to the installation of a sign. Sometimes those of us who are closest to something are the last people to see it, because we’ve simply stopped looking beyond the picture that has already been formed in our minds.
It was Thomas Jefferson who declared that “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” When a revised speed limit sign is posted, it is our responsibility to notice it and abide by it. When “no trespassing” signs are posted, our obligation is to understand what that means and respect it. When you become aware of God’s law, hopefully your response will be similar to the one above demonstrated by the errant cart driver, where there is a heartfelt apology, followed by a turning away from the wrong direction and a turning towards the correct way.
My friends, don’t allow what you have always known to keep you from seeing information that is clearly visible. Romans 1:20 states “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Take some time to slow down and truly see what is before you. We were given eyes that see, ears that hear, and brains that think – with the expectation that we would use those abilities wisely. The information is there for you to grasp, and ignorance of it is no excuse. And if it shows that you are about to drive over the drain field, stop, turn around, and go in the way that you were supposed to go.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron