No Renewal.
No Renewal

So I went to the RMV on Friday, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, to renew my driver's license. My birthday is coming up fast, and my wife who is ever aware of important things like this reminded me it expired ON my birthday here, not 30 days past, so I needed to get it renewed. Since we were in Fitchburg, anyway, we went over to the RMV in Leominster. As usual, the parking lot was jammed with people trying to find a place to park. What was NOT usual was the number of people I passed walking out, grumbling. Apparently the computers had gone down for the state registry. Since it appeared you could still get a driver's license, I went in and sat down.

Now if you haven't been to the registry lately, there is a "greeter" at the door that you must check in with, who gives you a number based on who you are going to see. Driver tests, license renewal, plates, tax payments, etc. all have their own strange numbering scheme. But you can't get a number anywhere but right at the door. Made me think of all those jokes about heaven with Peter at the gate. Oh what a prophecy!

So I got in line, and it was quickly my turn. I couldn't imagine why so many people were being turned away. Clever me, my wife had gone to the webpage and downloaded the form, so I had it in my hand pre-filled out. It said clearly you needed to bring in your old driver's license, which I also had.

"Do you have your social security card?" the lady asks me. "Why no." I say, quite surprised. "Then go home and get it, you can't renew your license without it."

Puzzled, I looked over my form. NOWHERE does it say I need my social security card except in the case where I have no driver's license and need to prove my identity. Well, she must have just made a mistake, I think, and get back in line.

"Do you have your social security card?" she asks again. I tell her no, but I explain that the form says I need ONLY my current, in good standing driver's license. The computers are down, it turns out, and someone has decided that without a social security card you can't get a license or renew one. What!?! I tell the lady the form says I don't need it. I show her on my driver's license my social security number clearly printed. I remind her that a social security card is, by law, ONLY required for social security, and that NO state agency can require one for any non-monetary contract. It makes no difference. No card, no number. No getting in line. No renewal. End of story.

I went home and checked the web site. No mention of needing the card for anything but for new license seekers who had to prove citizenship. I still have no idea what happened.

Imagine if getting into heaven was like this. Some people believe it is. The bible is too hard to understand, they say, so it's almost sheer luck that we bring the right things with us. Or else it is too hard to follow, it is just impossible to keep perfectly. Some believe because it is so hard to live up to, that God will just open his heart and his arms and sweep us all in, sinful or not. They're wrong.

Or remember those that Christ speaks of. They claim to be living by his name, but they don't do the work that God has asked us to do. The bible clearly tells us all we need to know about salvation. But they leave important things at home, like love for a brother or complete obedience to his word. They don't bother with baptism, or confession, or even repentance. They cannot claim they have no idea what happened. They chose to leave those things behind. No fruits, no getting in. No renewal. End of story.

Randy

*********************************************************************

Matthew 7:17-23 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 25:32-45 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.