Three Wednesdays ago, I got a great lesson in forgiveness. I was on Cloud Springs Road headed to Lakeview Drive. I usually save time by taking the shortcut on Westside Drive, but several months ago, the city of Ft. Oglethorpe put up a “No Left Turn” sign. One-lane Cloud Springs Road backs up when a vehicle is turning left onto Westside Drive. It makes sense, but only when traffic is heavy (at least, that’s my story). Well, Wednesday morning about 9am, I was following a delivery truck who turned left onto Westside Drive (a bad example). No one was coming, so I followed him turning left onto Westside Drive. But then I saw the reflection of those dreaded flashing blue lights in my rearview mirror. I eased over onto the side of the road, turned off my car, and got out my driver’s license. I rolled my window down and kept my hands on the steering wheel holding my license between my fingers. The officer approached me and asked, “Didn’t you see that no-left-turn sign back there?” I replied, “To be honest, I did. I was just following that delivery truck.” And I motioned to the truck that was getting further and further away. The officer said, “I was going to pull him over, but you turned left too, so I pulled you over.” I responded, “I guess it’s his lucky day.” And with that another car, who had also turned left, drove past us and followed the truck. His lucky day too. But not mine. The officer called in my license information to his dispatcher, noticed the 3 boards in my car, and asked, “Where are you headed this morning?” I replied, “I’m putting down some trim at our church. I go to Calvary Independent Baptist church on North Terrace just off of I-24 at the Moore Road exit.” Then his radio crackled with the dispatcher informing the officer that I had a clear record. I went on, “Officer, if you will let me go today, I promise never to turn left here again.” And I meant it. He handed me my license and said, “Mr. Whitely, I’m just going to give you a verbal warning today. Just obey the posted signs. And have a safe day.” I thanked him, put away my license, re-buckled my seat belt, and went on to church. I was thankful for the grace that was shown to me on Wednesday. But I am much more thankful for the grace that is shown to me each and every day by the dear Lord, because my sins are many. God could “throw the book at me” every single day, but He doesn’t. He extends His grace to me over and over again! But it isn’t because I deserve His grace; it’s because of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ that I receive God’s grace. Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us …” I was the recipient of the officer’s grace last Wednesday, but I am the recipient of God’s grace every day. Hey, have you accepted God’s grace? Or are you like that truck and car? Grace is extended to you, but you just fly on by! Think about it today.
