Playing Dumb!

A mate and I woke early and headed out for some fishing off a pier at Como, a picturesque spot.  Boats were docked to the left, and a large swimming area with the perimeter secured with a shark net was to the right.  A public pool, park, clean toilets, and a cafe were all close by.  As we spent the morning fishing, many people brought their dogs to the swimming area and let them splash around.  On my way to the toilet I found this sign on the pier most amusing.

It does not take a genius to see that the sign had been tampered with!  Obviously the sign was provided with the intent to prohibit dogs using the swimming area.  Someone who disagreed with the council decision to prohibit dogs spent much time and energy carefully scratching out the red line which once stretched over the dog pictured.  What was intended to keep dogs out of the area could now be used as an encouragement!  The absence of the red line eases the conscience of those who bring their dogs along for a morning dip.  The spirit of the law has been dissolved by the scratching away of a little red line.

This is a prime example of what could be simply called, "playing dumb."  Anyone with a brain knows the purpose of the plaque's existence is to convey that dogs are prohibited.  But the defaced plaque gives everyone an out:  if called upon to answer why they are breaking the rules, they need only point to the sign and say, "Oh!  I didn't know!"  This goes way deeper than breaking the rules for a cheap doggy bath in revealing the depravity of the human condition!  People do this all the time with God's laws.  Perhaps they think they can "play dumb" on the Day of Judgment and credit themselves before God because there are people worse than them, everyone was doing it, or by pleading ignorance.  It will not work!  God's laws were written in stone by the finger of the Living God, and He has also written his laws upon our hearts and conscience.  God gave us His law so we might see our need for forgiveness and salvation.  "Playing dumb" is dumb.  God isn't fooled by our clever ploys to dodge His eternal laws of righteousness.

So are dogs allowed or prohibited at the beach?  What is the spirit of the law?  We don't need to wonder about what God's standards are, for they are written with a diamond point on plates of iron:  Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  This standard cannot be washed away by playing dumb.  Without the forgiveness of sins and righteousness through Christ, certainly all would perish for all have sinned.  Instead of working to scrub out God's laws, may Christ wash our hearts clean through repentance and faith.  The law is good when used lawfully.  How good God is, to wash our sins away!