Check the Expiration Date!

I can't believe it happened. Last week I was asked for my Drivers License number and the expiration date. I dutifully gave the number, and then I was shocked when I saw that my license had expired in August of 2006. The state always sent a post card that notified me that it was about time to renew my license before. After my wife drove me home, I called to find out what I had to do. A large fine would have been better than the news they gave me. Since it had been more than six months, I had to take all the driving tests again. In the past several years, I have moved to Missouri twice. Therefore, I had already taken the written test twice. But, this time I had to take the road test just like I was 16 years old! The test is only offered once every two weeks in Doniphan, and fortunately, they were offering it the next day. I became legal again early that morning. Through all of this, several lessons came to mind.

1. Even those who are trying to do the right thing can unknowingly do something wrong (Psalm 19:12 "Cleanse me from secret faults").

2. Although the state did not send a notification, I am still personally responsible for making sure my license is up to date. In the same way, we are all responsible for the status of our own souls (1 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad").

3. Don't wait for someone else to tell you what you should do. Take the initiative (Acts 17:11 "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so").

4. Just as I should have looked at "what is written" on my drivers license, we should all look at what is written in God's Word (1 Corinthians 4:6 "And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written").

5. There is an expiration date for this world, and then comes the judgment (John 5:28-29 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation").

By the way, you may want to take a moment to check you drivers license, but more importantly always check out God's Word.