It doesn't have to be drunk driving, but youth group teens can be especially prone to recklessness of poor decisions that leads maybe not to physical or financial condemnation, but spiritual and emotional. The apostle Peter knew this dynamic too well. Denying that he knew Christ, Peter reacted to his own poor decision.

"Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with Him.' But he denied it. 'Woman, I don't know Him,' he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.' 'Man, I am not!' Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, 'Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean.' Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.'

And he went outside and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:54-62).

It's the last verse that changes us. We know of the car wrecks and the horrible mistakes, but with the almost-17-year-old and with the Apostle Peter, beyond the physical and financial hurt, the realization of our responsibility is a cold shower on a winter morning. Peter enjoyed the incredible privilege of learning directly from Jesus, only to deny Him.  The almost-17-year-old was given keys to a nice car.

  Disappointing those who love, invest and then trust us evokes the powerful emotion of remorse displayed by Peter and the teenager driver.  Peter would be redeemed by Christ and go onto world-changing ministry; the teen driver, I'm convinced would have good parents.  There would be accountability but also much grace. 

  But for Peter and the teen driver, they didn't give themselves grace in the stark reality of poor decisions.  I suspect most youth would react as, or at least relate to what the almost-17-year-old said and felt.  Poor decisions make all of us feel the way Peter and the teen driver felt.

 Temptations abound behind the wheel, at the party, alone with the girlfriend, or in denying Christ.  It's just not worth it.