The Exception …

We’ve all walked past them, sitting there (often talking on their cell phone) in their vehicle parked in the “No Parking” fire zone in front of …

… the grocery store …

… the mall entrance …

… the movie theater …

… the gym …

… the restaurant …

… the school …

… believing they are The Exception.

“Hey, you can’t park there.”

“I’m just picking up someone …”

“I’m only here for a few minutes …”

“I won’t be long …”

“I’m just waiting for someone …”

… they say.

Whatever their justification, what they utter is just that: a cheap excuse. They believe they are The Exception.

As far as they are concerned, the red stripe on the curb and the posted signs prohibiting parking for any reason don’t apply to them. Such restrictions only apply to the rest of us. But they have every right to stop and sit in their vehicles right in front of the entrance to wherever they are.

Just because they are The Exception.

We’ve all seen them.

Perhaps, at times, you’ve been them. You sat there in your vehicle and became angry, even belligerent, to the store management who came out and told you that you had to move your vehicle because you actually were not The Exception.

There are a lot of people in this world who believe they are The Exception. The unique one to whom rules, standards, laws, regulations, requirements, or commands simply don’t apply. If someone complains, you’ll initially feign ignorance. If they persist, you’ll demand your rights that by common sense you should be The Exception.

Many even try this attitude with Jesus Christ. Yes, even Christ has His commands, and He says about them, “If you love me, obey my commandments,” (John 14:15). He’s not interested in excuses or justifications, although an abundance are offered.

The Bible tells us there is coming a day when the attitude of seeing ourselves as The Exception to the rule will be forever over. The Apostle Paul describes that day like this in Romans 14:11-12:

“For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’ Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”

If you’re not The Exception, then full obedience from a willing heart is the only response that remains. Which is yours?

Scotty