One Lawmaker

I remember a thought provoking question being asked a few years ago in a Bible study that I attended for which we could not find a clear “theological” position on the matter. The question was: “Is it a sin to drive above the posted speed limit?” It was an interesting debate.  The general consensus was loosely bound in the fact that it was breaking a law, and to break a law is sin, but that never set well with many of us.

It wasn’t until about a week later, I awoke in the morning, and the first thought that popped in my head, seemingly out of nowhere was “God is the only Lawmaker, what men call “law” is really only regulations.”  It was a moment of clarity that drove me first to my cup of coffee, then to the Bible where I read “There is only one lawgiver and judge…(James 4:12) For me, the matter was settled.  If we do not follow the speed limit posted, we are not breaking “God’s Law”, but man’s legislation or regulation.  Certainly consequences may follow, we may be fined, and it is for reasons of safety that these speed limits are posted so that while we are living in this world, we should, as much as it is in our power, to live peaceably rendering respect to the authority placed over us…but we are not necessarily breaking “God’s law” if we break man’s legislation.  So why is this distinction important?

We have an enemy who bears the name “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev.12:10).  If he manages to convince us that we are in a state of sin because we may have gone over the speed limit by a couple of miles per hour, then we will find ourselves confessing this “pseudo-sin” to God, as we approach Him in our prayers.  The same can be said for most regulations and bills signed into legislation. So many of these regulations are passed to be “the law of the land”  without having been read, it is as though the so called “lawmakers” know they are not really writing “laws”, and the joke is on us.

These are not really “Law”, though men call them “law”. If we thought we were in a state of sin every time we violated a regulation, how can we have confidence before a Holy God? The accuser burdens our hearts with our wretchedness and guilt, and we become regulated into slavery to the world system, barely able to lift our hearts in prayer. Our faith is suffocated, for when we become legalistic, we fall from grace (Gal.5:4) Satan knows this. We ought to remember this also.

This distinction is important because historically, the governments of this world generated increasingly restrictive regulations and legislation, sometimes contradictory, so that every aspect of our lives becomes hemmed in and while we try to live peaceably as much as it is in our power, this is always understood that our lives are under the authority of the only Lawgiver, Our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.  So long as man’s regulations do not violate our allegiance to Him, we are free to cooperate.  When we find ourselves at a cross-road, we must choose to whom we will be slaves, to men or God.

As this age is drawing to a close, we see an increasingly hostile sentiment to Holy Scripture, and it is likely that we will all be in a position, at one time or another, “to draw the line”…to be in that valley of decision where we are prompted to  “choose this day whom you will serve…” (Josh.24:15) With man muddying semantics by calling regulations and legislation “law”, and dismissing the Laws of the one and Only Lawmaker, we must pray for discernment and conclude that  we must obey God, rather than men (Acts 5:25) If we are unable to make that distinction, we are no longer free. If we are no longer free, we are enslaved. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Gal.5:1)

DJ

The Fear of the Lord

 Oh fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. (Ps 34:9) 

I love walking down a deserted beach, listening to the roaring and crashing waves remembering the Scripture “the voice of the Lord is like many waters”. (Ez.43:2;Rev.1:15/14:2) It is a glimpse of the power of God who created the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is contained therein, both visible and invisible.  The restless ocean must abide by the boundaries set by God “this far, and no further” and it can only trespass beyond this point by His permission. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. (Ps.107:25) Anyone who has stood on the shoreline during a violent storm learns a new respect for the power behind nature as it relentlessly protests against its borders.  It is a reminder of our smallness and utter helplessness in this universe apart from God, but Jesus demonstrated that even the wind and sea obey Him, and this generated a deep fear of Him among His disciples. (Mk.4:41) 

We are living in times when much of the western church has neglected to learn the fear of the Lord. We are bombarded with distractions and technological advances that captivate our attention, and draw us away from meditating on the things of God. Many live away from the language of nature, and are surrounded by man-made structures and systems that magnify mans’ ingenuity.  We live lives that are relatively routine and dependent upon our ability to earn a living. Our attention to nature may be limited to a garden, or a nicely manicured lawn or the nuisance of mosquitos and gnats.  Perhaps this is why the Psalmist counters that the heavens declare the glory of God…(Ps.19)…where-ever we are, we need only look up to see what our God has made and sustains.  

 Often I have heard it explained that the “fear of the Lord” is a “reverence” of Him.  I probably have said it myself. It is impossible to have a true “reverence” for a God that we do not fear. (Ps.89:7)  There has been such a focus on the “Love of God” in Christ Jesus, that there has been a lackadaisical regard to His other simultaneous attributes. His Omniscience, His Omnipotence, His Omnipresence, His Immutableness, His Holiness, His Sovereignty and Justice are neglected in light of His love and mercy.  How grateful we are for His love and mercy, but if the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, then we should rightly understand this God who created us and joined us to Himself in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. 

We experience thunderstorms with awe. Unless we were living in tents much of our fear of them is muted by the safety of our homes. Scripture declares that His lightnings light the world, the earth sees and trembles. (Ps.97:4). Lightning and wind may be intimidating, but God Himself makes these things. (Jer.10:13/51:16)  We must learn to see our God not only through the humanity of Jesus Christ, but through His divinity. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. (Heb.13:8) He is the same God of the Old Testament, as He is in the New Testament. He has changed us, but He has not changed. He is not like us. (Ps.50:21)

Christian persecution is on the rise worldwide and hints of it seem to be lapping upon the shore of America. When we have learned to fear the Lord as the Creator of those things which are terrifying, we need never to fear anything else. Fortunately, we can learn a healthy fear of the Lord so that we do not wander from Him. (Dt. 17:19/Jer.32:40) 

We are accepted in the Beloved, hid with Christ in Him, and we His Saints who fear Him, and Him alone have a God who alone should be feared. If this God is on our side, who can be against us? (Rom.8:31) Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.(2Cor.7:1) 

DJ

Centrality of the Cross and Appreciation of the Cost

…and I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices….(2 Cor.2:10-12)

The Apostle Paul and those with him were not ignorant of the devices Satan used to undermine their ministry and take advantage of areas in their lives which were not in alignment with the Word and Ways of Scripture.  They realized that un-forgiveness would put them at a disadvantage and undermine their effectiveness in the preaching of the Gospel.

Are we ignorant of the devil’s devises? Are we aware that not only does the devil undermine and gain a foothold in areas of sin, but he is also sows discord within relationships.  The devil is in the “extremes” and he likewise magnifies pain. He keeps a person in bondage by encouraging them to hold a grudge and blame others, rather than to grow.

Who walks upon this planet and has not been a casualty of pain? Who has not suffered the consequences of someone else’s action or harsh word?  It is an inevitable fact of life that we suffer because of the selfishness of someone else, and that we cause others to suffer because of our own selfishness. The one who dealt the pain seldom appreciates the hurt they have caused, and the one who experiences the hurt and pain, seldom forgets it.

In a world full of people rubbing against one another even with the best intentions, will injure others and this injury eventually causes an insensitivity and callousness of feeling, much like the callous is formed on skin that is constantly rubbed and irritated.  The only remedy is charitable love.  This sort of love acknowledges the hurt, but forgives the one who has inflicted it. The trouble is that the devil that bore witness to the hurt, whispers to the victim of offense all manner of charges and accusations about the perpetrator in order to sow discord between them. It may be a person’s intention to forgive, but the devil keeps stirring the pot. We’ve not a “sea of forgetfulness” into which to cast the offense, as God has, but in Christ we have access to all that is our inheritance.  God has committed all things to Christ who has made these very things accessible to us, who abide in Him.

When we forgive, we may petition the Lord also to forgive this person.  It is fair to acknowledge to God our suffering, but because Christ suffered on our account, we relinquish all indebtedness. We may be justified in our complaint, accusation and blame, but we rather suffer the wrong because of Christ’s suffering for our wrongs. When we transgress we are like the instruments used to shred His flesh and we become identified with the inflictors of His affliction. Christ has forgiven us of a lifetime of sin, how can we then not forgive others? 

If we are unforgiving, it is because we do not truly appreciate what God has done for us. We may be grateful, but we do not appreciate it. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. (Rom.5:6) He loves us mercifully for we’ve done nothing to deserve it, we are called to do the same. In doing so, we experience in a very small measure the pain of sin in the world and share in the sufferings of Christ. 

Whenever another offends us because of self-centeredness and pride, our natural instinct is to defend ourselves and “self” builds a fortified wall of defense with pride standing guard at the gate. This natural process causes hardness of heart and an inability to love unconditionally.  We ought rather to bear the injury, recognizing that our own sin has also injured others, and Christ. With the cross in view, we petition the Lord to forgive, even our enemies, for we ourselves are guilty and have been forgiven much.

The devil stirs the pot of anguish and discord, our answer to this malicious agitator of humanity is this; “I remember the cost of my sin upon the Son of God which afflicted not only His flesh, but His very soul, which was poured out for my sake. He was entitled to judge me, but He chose to forgive me. I likewise choose to forgive this person.  I will count this offense and my suffering as a glimpse and insight into the pain that I myself caused Christ.” This is the centrality of the Cross of Christ.

DJ