When a Stop Sign
Is Removed
Neal Pollard

In one of the cruelest most tragic, practical jokes ever played, three Florida teenagers removed a stop sign from a busy intersection. Consequently, three other young people lost their lives in a multi-car crash. The pranksters now face the probability of several decades in prison. How sickening that they could find humor or pleasure in doing something so morbidly sinister!

Long ago, the inspired Solomon said, "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set" (Proverbs 22:28). The message conveyed there is that the established boundaries must remain in their places. In Moses' day, in preparation for possessing Canaan, Israel was warned against removing a neighbor's landmark (Deut. 19:14). In fact, one who did so was bitterly cursed (Deut. 27:17). Solomon's warning in Proverbs 22, though obviously literal, has spiritual application for the modem Christian. As it was woeful to remove a stop sign to create that traffic accident in Florida, it is also dangerous for anyone to remove the "stop signs" God has erected in His word!

Someone has rightly said, "Whenever God says 'Thou shalt' He is really saying 'Do yourself a favor.' Whenever God says 'Thou shalt not' He is saying 'Don't hurt yourself ... He has placed certain "stop signs" along the road of life, the intention of which is to save man from spiritual disaster. One must respect them and leave them alone. Consider some of the "stop signs" man has removed.

The "Stop Signs" In Sexual Matters. The causal attitude of some young people (and older people!) toward sexual intercourse outside of marriage is frightening. From the dawn of time, Satan has urged the plucking up of restraint in this area of life (remember Sodom and Gomorrah?). His disciples say that it is natural, inevitable, and desirable to commit what is to God an abomination (I Cor. 6:18; Gal. 5:19). To successfully tempt man to commit fornication, the devil must remove the stop signs that keep a person from committing it. One stop sign is purity of heart (Phil. 4:8), where the thought of fornication is too troubling and fearful. Another stop sign is a properly trained conscience (cf. I Tim. 4:2), where one is ashamed even of thinking of doing evil. But, when one overcomes righteous inhibition and lets down the barriers (engaging in immoral intimate talk, wearing alluring clothing, petting, etc.), the stop sign is slowly uprooted. The result is calamitous, for one who commits fornication sins grievously (Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5).

The "Stop Signs" In Sinful Habits. Using alcoholic beverages, tobacco or other drugs, cursing, lying, gambling, and similar habits are formed when the stop signs have already been removed. All of these activities will bring frightening results. But, they are embraced only after the qualms are overcome. Perhaps the fear of being caught doing the sin keeps one from engaging in a sinful habit. Maybe the thought of how such would hurt the Lord steers one away from it. It could be a desire to do only what is right and well pleasing to God that keeps one away from it. But, when one can rationalize why doing a sin is OK, comfort one's self in seeing that "everyone does it," or justify the thing by moderate or minimal involvement in it, the stop signs are being removed. One no longer deals with precepts like "abstain from the very appearance of evil" (I Thess. 5:22), "abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul" (I Pet. 2:11), or "love not the world..." (I John 2:15). Instead, having removed the stop signs that should keep them from their sinful activity, they build what becomes a sinful habit that they learn to hate but from which they cannot cease.

The "Stop Signs" In Falling Away. The Christian is told to be faithful unto death to receive eternal life (Rev. 2: 10). Every Christian should know that if they are not loyal to Christ (as applicable to giving, attending the assemblies, evangelizing, praying, studying, etc.), they will be lost (2 Pet. 2:20-22; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31; et. al.). But, few go from being completely faithful to completely falling away from Christ. No, one must remove the stop signs first. One will not miss every service all at once, but will only miss occasionally. One will not stop reading the Bible altogether, but just a day here or there. One will not dive back into a sinful lifestyle, but just return once (then twice, then three times. . .). But assuredly, when one stops loving and serving the Lord and turns inward to listen to self, one will begin pulling out God's stop signs. God wants no one lost (2 Pet. 3:9), but most will be lost (Matt. 7:13-14). Those who are lost will have removed every stop sign that God has erected between them and hell.

God's word is man's law (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 6:2). It was instituted for man's own good (Psa. 119:113). Man gets hurt emotionally, even physically, and always spiritually when he violates God's will (cf. Rom. 6:23; James 1: 13-15). The results which follow man's removing God's "stop signs" being so harmful, may we all resolve to do all in the name of the Lord (cf. Col. 3:17: Phil. 4:13)! Such will make for a safe trip on "the way" (cf. John 14:6).

Elders Meeting....
The elders are asking to meet with the congregation this evening (Sunday, March 13) at 5:00 pm, concerning the 2005 budget and the appointing of additional elders and/or deacons. All members are encouraged to be here.

Wedding Invitation
Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Lupo’s daughter, Sara Elizabeth and Kenneth Allen Ross, are being married on April 1, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. at the Morristown church of Christ, 1408 East Andrew Johnson Highway, Morristown, Tennessee. Invitation and picture are posted on the bulletin board.

It appears today that there are many that get a little upset and quit going to church. An old preacher noticed this and said to his audience: "Some folks think they hurt the church when they get mad and quit. But they are wrong about that. It never hurts the tree for the dried up apples to fall off."