tagged: Devotions, Rob Ayers

Rules That Lead To Joy

Posted by Rob Ayers in Bible & Theology

Most people in this chaotic world (and in the body of Christ) reject the idea of authority and overarching absolutes.  It is the zietgiest, the spirit of the age and current generation.  They believe that outside authority and tradition is restricting, and reject any sort of external rules that talk about spirituality and morality, viewing them as judgmental.  Yet most parents, including those who sneer at traditional rules or norms, would exert authority on their children and expect obedience from their kids. They would see this  obedience as a sign of loyalty, trust and respect.

God is not unlike many of us parents.  He has the universe in which He created boundaries and rules for all to follow.  Jump off a cliff, and you will fall, probably to your death.  Live together before marriage, then you risk forever finding true happiness in a committed relationship. Take drugs, and you will be a willing victim to the drugs and their power. Without such rules that a loving God provides, humanity would experience chaos and enslavement instead of freedom.  After all, the world is full of fallen human beings, of sinners.  We need external moral safeguards that protect people and their rights as both individuals and nations, provide boundaries for relationships, ensure privacy, and demonstrate a respect for life. God is the one who has defined these moral absolutes.  Sinners cannot be trusted to define what is good, or know what true justice is.  Internal means of knowing what is right and wrong are suspect, and prone to misjudgment, and extreme consequences. Ask the thousands and millions of those who have gone before us who played life doing what Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way.” Their lives lay before us as examples of what happens when human beings truly go their own way: misery and destruction.  Conjure up the ghosts of Hitler and Stalin if you would and ask about the consequences and futility of forming a personal paradigm of Mywayism on a national scale.

The Scripture clearly reveals what I have said so far.  Listen to these words for a moment and decide by the direction of God’s Spirit to see if you measure up to the Word’s plumb line:

“Now this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, “I know Him” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as he walked.

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have heard from the beginning.  The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is shining.

He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.  He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.  But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you His name’s sake.  I write to you fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I write to you young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.  I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:3-15

This section of scripture describes that behavior that believers follow.  The apostle is very clear on who is a believer and who is not.  Those that love God are those who “follow the commandments of God.”  The commandment to “walk in the footsteps of Jesus” is the first.  To be a believer in Christ is first one who follows Christ.  A believer is not one who merely gives lip service to God for words are cheap – a true Christian believer is a person who gives life-service by mimicking the one who gave His life in service to humanity.  This is so that all who believe and follow Him can have the presence of Christ in them – the power and ability to live now, and life for eternity with Christ.

The part that sticks close to me is the promise of God that “the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.”  True believers understand that this world is fading – that anything this world offers is merely an illusion, and it is fading and passing.  All that is real is God.  Unless a person has a true investment in what is real, then what is fading will not save them.  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” was not an empty phrase of words muttered by a madman from Nazareth. It was an entreaty made by one who knows:  the reality of the next world is more important than the illusion and fading of the present.

There is a warning that is contained in this word.  The warning is contained in versus 15-17. There are those who love what the Bible describes as the “world.”  These are folks who often give God and the church lip service, yet rarely if ever entertain the constraints of a righteous life.  These are those who would consider such moral absolute constraints such as the Ten Commandments as suggestions and not authoritative or relevant for the day. These are those who would prefer their own advice to that of God and His Word. The apostle describes some as those who are most interested in, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” These folks are not of God, and are of the world, and unfortunately will have no part in God’s kingdom. There may be many who read these words that are in this predicament.  My witness to you today would be to warn you of the plight of your journey.  I would then strongly recommend to you a different course.  Seek Jesus while you can find Him.  Listen to his voice today while He today is knocking on your hearts door.

Listen to the voice of the Lord.  The apostle wishes to place you in the position of his beloved children, “Because you sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.”  This is what I would want for you – and for this cause today God receives the glory  – that prayerfully God will speak to you about taking your place in His kingdom, and in His family the church.  Today give God the glory!