The Traffic Test

This is where the rubber meets the road. The first automobile accident in America allegedly took place in Ohio City, Ohio in 1891 (from “Ohio History Central”, an Ohio history website run by the Historical Society, Ohio History Connection). Accurate or not, car crashes are certainly bound to happen.

In Bible times, this was not  a problem. I do recall an ox in the ditch (pit) in Luke 14:5. Traffic laws have been established to help avoid accidents on our modern day roads. Common courtesy is also helpful. All of that to say, some people don’t play the game well.

When I am that one, I want the other drivers to forgive me. When others are guilty, I am often not so forgiving. My hardest test is when someone impedes traffic for five miles and then gets to a passing lane and speeds up. If that isn’t bad enough, one car will take a whole mile to pass, leaving a whole line of cars (including me), still behind the impeder. 

Notice in this description the “kind” words I chose. To be honest, it burns me up! That is where the traffic test comes in. Can a Christian that claims to be walking after the Spirit have an outburst such as this? Yes, they can. But the “walk after the Spirit” comes to a rubber-burning screeching stop. You just got an “F.” What if you don’t say anything, but harbor the feelings in your heart? You probably got a “D,” if we are grading on the “curve.”

The traffic test is actually a test of our sanctification. Acts 19:2, “He said unto them. Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”

Paul was speaking to disciples in Ephesus. They had been baptized unto John’s baptism (vs. 3). John preached repentance. Those that he baptized had repented (turned away from their sin). There is another baptism. One man bitterly said to me concerning this, “What was wrong with the first baptism, wasn’t it good enough?” No, it was good enough, but more was to come. John’s very words: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Yes, you can be a disciple and not be baptized with the Holy Ghost. But I wouldn’t advise it.

In Acts 18 & 19 we see the early church in need of sanctification. Apollos was a Jew (Acts 18:24). He was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the ways of Jesus. He was fervent in spirit. He had repented and turned from his sins. Today, we would say he stood out above the rest of the church. Many preachers and church board members would do well to have a report like this.

However, when Aquila and Priscilla heard him preach, they could see something lacking. Apollos knew only the baptism of John (vs. 25). They took him aside and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (vs. 26).

Paul could see the same lack of sanctification in the disciples at Ephesus. He asked them, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed (Acts 19:2)?” They hadn’t even heard about the Holy Ghost. They had been baptized unto John’s baptism. When they heard Paul explain about the Holy Ghost and the baptism of Jesus, they were quick to respond. They were baptized in the name of Jesus. Pentecost happened again. The Holy Ghost came upon them. They spake with tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:6).

Much of the church today is lacking Pentecost. We are lacking the Holy Ghost upon us. We often don’t preach sanctification, because we are not sanctified. In Luke 24:45-49, Jesus said to preach repentance, but also to wait in Jerusalem to be endued with power from on high. How do I know If I am sanctified when the rubber meets the road? If you have the Holy Ghost you are sanctified. If you are sanctified, you have the Holy Ghost. The “power” in the traffic test is not horse power, but Holy power!