I’m read in Matthew 5 today that following God’s laws is beneficial. It was true in Exodus 15 as well. Here’s what it says: “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, obeying His commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.”
I am not a fan of preaching the “prosperity gospel” or “feel good religion” or “legalism” in any of its forms. God provides the grace of forgiveness when we confess He is Lord and Jesus is our savior. That’s the whole message of Easter. But, God does teach us how to live, and books like Proverbs remind us of the contrasts of doing what’s right and the consequences of rejecting God’s laws.
We can’t plead ignorance. Nor can we assume we, in this mortal life, will never face disease, difficulties, suffering, and hardship. Good people and bad people face the penalty of sin’s disobedience established from the very beginnings when our first parents sinned against a specific command of God because of their pride and self-will. Although dedicated Christians strive to live according to God’s laws, if their heart-attitude is that same sin of pride of accomplishment, they are, as Jesus said, as filthy rags. No amount of striving for perfection will result in perfection, except that God promises to guide us, bless us, and show us grace when we fail. That is a continuous process, and He is continually present.
When we look at the chaos in our society, the depravity of man, the self-centeredness of celebrity, the penalties of power, and the willful disobedience of even the basic Ten Commandments, is it any wonder that law enforcement is such a problem?
I contend, and the Bible teaches, that when God’s laws are disobeyed, disregarded, and defied, humanity resorts to lawlessness and societies crumble. When our legislators pass laws to allow people to kill their own images in the womb, and when God says: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image (Genesis 9:6) and man removes that deterrent, or man allows stealing of up to a thousand dollars’ worth of goods with no penalty of punishment, what can we as a society expect but chaos.
I continue to pray for repentance to be practiced, and for confession of our sins to lead to peace. God promises the grace of forgiveness and His continued presence to bless those who seek His counsel. I continue to believe the church should be in the forefront of discussion of God’s laws, and pray for God’s mercy in Her revival. While many in our world think its message is irrelevant, I am thankful that evidence to that is contrary. Witness the prayers of many for a fallen man on a football field. Maybe we are not, as a society, beyond compassion as we kneel in prayer because deep down in our heart of hearts, we know we are created by a benevolent God. He allows us the free will to choose, and the choice we make is everlasting. When He calls us to belief, we know the peace of His presence, no matter what, and that is called redemption.
About the Author
