20 The Accomplice
Nick and Oliver were in front of Old Man MacGregor's house at midnight. Nick had a carton of eggs with him. "Come on, Oliver, let's do it!" whispered Nick.
"Are you crazy?" Oliver replied. "We are going to get in so much trouble!"
"Aw, don't be a chicken!" Nick retorted. "Old Man MacGregor has it coming to him for confiscating your frisbee just because it landed on his rose bushes. You can be chicken if you want, but I'm going to do it!"
Nick started egging Old Man MacGregor's house as Oliver watched on from a short distance away. However, Oliver saw a flashing light approach the house. "It's the police! Nick, run for it!" Oliver cried out. A police officer got out of his car and yelled, "Hey you, stop!" The police officer then started chasing after Nick.
Oliver took off and Nick dropped the egg carton and started running after him. The two boys turned the corner and unfortunately ran into a cul-de-sac. Oliver dived behind some bushes, but Nick was caught by the policeman! As Oliver was cowering behind the bushes, Nick pointed Oliver out to the policeman and cried out, "Oliver, the cops got us! We're done for!"
Oliver got out from behind the bushes to face the stern-looking police officer. "Officer," Nick protested, "I didn't do anything!"
The police officer paused and eyed Oliver. "So, you were just watching your friend here throwing eggs at Mr. MacGregor's house?"
"Yes! Yes!" Oliver nodded his head rapidly, "I didn't throw any eggs at all!"
"Then, why didn't you try to stop your friend?" asked the officer. "I'm sure you know egging a house is wrong, yet you did nothing as your friend egged Mr. MacGregor's house. I'm going to have to take you and your friend in to the station and call both your parents."
Oliver and Nick looked at each other and both of them simultaneously sighed in resignation. They're going to be in deep trouble now. Even worse, Oliver was stung by the truth of the police officer's chastisement. He knew better, but he didn't try to stop his friend from egging Old Man MacGregor's house, so he deserves even more blame than Nick.
People sin when they do things that they are not supposed to do, but people also sin when they know what they should do, but they do not do it. God does not call on us to be idle. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you guidance to do the things that you should be doing (e.g. sharing the Gospel with others) in addition to helping you not do things that you should not be doing (e.g. breaking any of God's commandments)!
- Recommended reading: Romans 7:11-25
