Do the words Smokey and the Bandit ring any bells for you? How about “East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’?” The tune plays in my head as I pound the keyboard. For those of you too young to remember, thirty-five years ago today a maverick race car driver by the name of Bandit, played by Burt Reynolds, drove a hot, black Trans-Am across the movie screens of America. Bandit and the local Smokey, Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason, had a love-hate relationship. More hate than love.
And then there was that shiny eighteen-wheeler and Fred and Cledus. Cledus was Bandit’s truck drivin’ buddy and Fred, his dog. To add a little romance, run-a-way bride, Carrie, played by Sally Fields, alias Frog, jumped in Bandit’s car, unaware they were racing the clock, nothing stoppin’ ‘em—Texas to Atlanta in twenty-eight hours, to deliver a truck load of illegal beer— $80,000 bucks was the prize.
Critics panned the movie, but it’s popularity brought in $126 million plus two more Smokey and The Bandit sequels. And Americans entered Bandit’s chase, throwing God’s Word, principles, and morality to the wind, stopping at nothing to obtain the prize of their own choosing. But what’s that prize worth? And what does it cost?
One of the phrases in the theme song “…lean back and watch ole Bandit run,” captured the hearts and minds of a generation. A generation gearing up to run with The Bandit—living life on the raw edge, traveling at Mach speed, gambling with love, life, and legacy. No caution. No rules. No stops. Just hammer down and win this game called doing what’s right in our own eyes.
And we have watched several generations mobilize and run to win—but what are they winning? Contentment? Satisfaction? Peace? Judging from divorce courts and crime stats, I don’t think so.
Cars are faster, highways are streamlined, speed limits are accelerated, and the words Stop, Caution, or Danger Ahead, have been cast aside like old Model T’s. Laws are meant to be broken, relationships redefined and marriage made a mockery. There is no such thing as absolute truth—at least that’s what our children are learning in public school and on social media.
The behavioral stop sign has been tossed on the garbage heap and the sky’s the limit—for everything. This generation hears with their eyes. So why aren’t we showing them things of value? Or are we still trying to be their friend, rather than their parent?
Before our days came into being, God numbered each one of them. He knows the beginning and the end. And we only have a sequence of twenty-four hour days allotted to our lifetime before we must give account of our stewardship to the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe—whether you believe it or not.
I cannot sit silent while the truths of God’s Word are no longer allowed to be part of our schools, our government, public conversation, and even some churches. For many there won’t be a second chance, because they’ve bought his lie, and that great enemy of old, the devil, is daily blinding and dragging them into bottomless darkness and snuffing out their lives. The evening news recites the fatality stats in HD.
But in spite of what this postmodern culture says, we are born to belong. God doesn’t want you out there alone, running as fast as you can toward a disastrous-dead-end. You were made to be part of a family and you can have a place called home.
But ask yourself: Whose child are you? Who is your Father? Are you part of God’s family?
You don’t have to run races to prove your worth to God. He loves you so much even while you were a willing sinner, He gave His Son to die so you could live with Him forever. There’s a place at His table—just for you. Won’t you please come home?
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NAS). “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7 NAS).
MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES 