Ever found God’s way a bit too constrictive? Wish you could go your own way for a bit? Consider this illustration:

Can you imagine Thomas the tank-engine thinking to himself, “I don’t need these silly rails, they restrict me too much and I cannot go wherever I please and I cannot do whatever I chose”?

So one fine morning – with a full head of steam, Thomas hits the bend – at speed – and deliberately derails himself in a field.

“Wee!! I’m free!!”, he says.

The earth is soft and warm, the sky is clear, and the sun is strong.

But as the weather changes, and the rains begin to fall, and Thomas’ wheels begin to rust, and the weeds and vines begin to cover his once gleaming but now faded paint work, and the water in his tank turns pale green, Thomas regrets his decision.

And that is because trains function best when they are on the rails.

Thomas is going nowhere and what is more, he is falling apart in the process.

He is miserable, and he is very frustrated, and there is not one thing he can do to change his situation.

Sin is like that.

Sin, fuelled by self-interest and a contempt for God’s decrees and commands – drives people at full speed off the rails (as it were).
Not only is human kind off-course, we are also held fast in that predicament.
There is nothing that we can do to right the situation.
Getting back on track is beyond us.

- Stuart Robinson, “Looking for Justice”, preached to St Paul’s Anglican, Chatswood, 29/1/06