Red lights are understood differently in different parts of the world. In the Netherlands and some select other countries the "red light" is in reference to a socially accepted prostitution area. Red lights on planes and boats mean one thing while the railroad has their own use of red lights. I can remember playing "Red light, Green Light" as a kid. Entertainment was the goal but there was a valuable lesson to be learned for down the road when I obtained a drivers license. Today I still stop for red lights but not usually yellow. I don't have to stop for green lights at all. With society today the red light is interpreted however it most benefits the user of the term. Christians are no different. Red light for murder. Green light for smoking outside the door. Red light for swearing unless you are at work or out with friends. Red light for most Christians means someone else has to turn on the green light before Christians share their faith. The Red Light of the Old Testament was found in the laws that mostly came from people wanting greenlights. The Israelites were given the green light to give their wives a letter of divorce and send them away. This became such a bonus for men that they could send their wives away if they didn't give them coffee (today in that same area). Wow! Just what did Jesus say about Red Lights? He said, "Go ahead and run the red light."
Wait a minute. Did he really say that? Not at all. Jesus did come (according to Matthew) to fulfill the law. Just what does that mean? He made the law null and void because he fulfilled the requirements of the law through his birth, life, death and resurrection for us. As Paul said, all things are permissible but not all things are right. He was also confronted on a roof by the greatest buffet of all time and God telling him to eat all things created by him. The red light was dead. So, how does this affect the Christian? For the who is running his life the legalism still is at work keeping them subject to the law. For the Christian who has chosen to have Jesus live through them there is no law except the law of love. Wow, that was simple! The only light that exists for the Christian who's life is dead and Jesus is alive in them is the green light of love. There are no red lights for Jesus and if he's living through you, you don't have red lights either. The tricky part is whether you have a daily ACTS relationship with the father. Worry means you don't. Guilt means you don't. Internal conflict means you don't. Focus on anything other than Jesus means you don't. Get the picture? So, what is it going to be? Are you going with the green light or keeping the red light?
Yes, you still have to obey the traffic signals as you are in the world but not of the world. But why don't you obey the great commission? Why is it that you engage the rules of pagans but not the rules of God. For he/she who loves is love from the Father. Your submission to Jesus living in you brings you to the that point where it's better to obey God than man. Your green light is backed up by the Holy Spirit and the Father as well as Jesus. Why? Because you are living a green light life you were created to live. If you can't let Christ live through you than you should just be honest and say that you don't love Jesus or your salvation enough to give up the world. You are serving yourself and Jesus is not living through you regardless of what you think, say and do. If your motive is maintain control of your world, then suffer the consequences. Go ahead and run the red light of life. You won't be honoring Jesus but then that's what todays socialized religion is teaching about God. It's not the truth but it's what itching ears want to hear. Seeking to find a place where they don't have to be accountable for their sin, the Christian simply feels no allegiance to God or the Word. Is that the life you want to live?
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