A Young Police Officer Was Taking His Final Exam ...

A young police officer was taking his final exam for the police academy

And he read the following question in the exam paper:

“You are on patrol in the outer city when an explosion occurs in a gas main in a nearby street.

On investigation you find that a large hole has been blown in the footpath and there is an overturned van nearby. Inside the van there is a strong smell of alcohol. Both occupants—a man and a woman—are injured. You immediately recognize the woman as the wife of your Chief of Police, who is at present away in the USA.

A passing motorist stops to offer you assistance

and you realize that he is a man who is wanted

for armed robbery.

Suddenly a man runs shouting that his wife is expecting out of a nearby house, a baby and that the shock of the explosion has made the birth imminent.

Another man is crying for help, having been blown in the adjacent canal by the explosion, and he cannot swim.”

The examination question concluded :

“Describe in a few words what actions you would take.”

The young man thought for a moment, picked up his pen and wrote,

“I would take off my uniform and mingle with the crowd.”

Some of us see the difficulties of being a Christian in the same way.

From Martin Dale’s Sermon: The Lord’s Prayer