Years ago I knew a woman who worked for the EPA. Which I learned was self
sustaining, meaning it was funded by fines paid by businesses when they broke
the laws. Which were open to interpretation, such as the cleaning tank lid not
closing fast enough, labels on barrels of waste not straight, and her last
statement to me was the real eye opener. “It is impossible for me to know all
the rules, but I can guarantee you I can walk into any business and find one
broken.” Which gave me a whole new interpretation of “I’m from the government
and I am here to help.” And over the years I have seen it abused many times. I
was in another shop one day, who probably was breaking many laws, when the EPA
woman showed up. Without hesitation he walked over and grabbed his license off
the wall and handed it to her. “This is what you came here for isn’t it?”
Let’s just say she didn’t disagree. So it seems that we may just have too many
laws, rules, regulations, and standards that we are expected to meet if we are
to exist in today’s modern world. And laws are nothing different, as we see
then from how to pick grapes to how to wash your dog. The internet is filled
with them, ever read any disclaimer before they let you in, which we don’t read
and of course break some law after. But we have laws everywhere, and like the
old song says “signs, signs, everywhere a sign. Do this don’t do that, obey the
law.”
And today we have an ever zealous Congress, whose job it is to make new
laws, which ultimately take away freedoms, and we all risk the chance of
becoming a criminal, a law breaker. Yet society tells us we need rules, if
nothing else to maintain a decorum. One evening at a Bible study we were
studying the Holy Spirit, and the leader after praying “God lead us by your
spirit,” began to outline the rules for the evening. Of course I was chastised
when I mentioned the spirit runs contrary to the law, maybe it was like Barney
Fife telling his tour group “the first rule is obey all rules.” Funny I don’t
remember being told I couldn’t ask questions? But so it goes, and like the old
song goes, “I fought the law and the law one.” But does it really...
Cecil B. DeMille, the great Hollywood director and producer, he of “The Ten
Commandments” and others, once studied to find out that since the Ten
Commandments were given over 3000 years ago, man has created over 32 million
laws, add in the EPA’s and the numbers are truly staggering. But he also noted
not one of them has improved upon God’s laws. Maybe we should take a moment to
pause, no one has improved on the original Ten Commandments! Which were written
in a language comprised of only 22 characters, in a nation where most people
could read. When most in other nations couldn’t. In other words they were
available to all, compared to the Chinese language at the time comprised of over
10,000 characters, the Egyptian with over 3000 hieroglyphics, the Assyrians who
only had to write and remember 1500, and the Hittites only 375. All before
texting, a language of its own, and you wonder why we have no respect for the
law? I may have broken one by saying that!
Yet in the Ten Commandments we find the way God and man, and also man and
man should exist with each other. How to have relationships that have meaning,
four of God and man, six for man and man. Is God that much smarter or can he
only remember four? Yet we forget them until reminded when we break them,
bringing condemnation, and guilt. Which we usually are. But also unique to
them is there is no forgiveness of sin or salvation found in them. Great ways
to live, but no way to heaven. But the most important one may give us the clue
we need, “love your God with all your heart, mind, and soul.” If you do, all
else falls into place. Matthew tells us “seek the kingdom of God first, and his
righteousness, then all things will be added unto you.” Good words to live by.
But Jesus made it even simpler, by being the only way back to God. The only way
to have our sins forgiven, and the only way to be saved. One simple statement,
commandment, that we find the hardest to follow. “Love God first, then your
neighbor as you love yourself.” Simple enough, love God first, be forgiven, and
as he loves you, love others. For you cannot love yourself fully when in sin,
forgiveness cleanses us of that, and then we can forgive others, paving the way
to love them. One simple sentence that comprises the gospel, and leads to
salvation and heaven. And when embodied by the spirit, brings joy and freedom,
as when we see things through the eyes of Jesus, we react differently. So his
law of love is simple-just love. A commandment we all can live with. So let me
ask in ask in BeeGee-ese, “how deep is your love?” Have you asked Jesus to
forgive you? Have you forgiven others? But have you also forgiven yourself,
maybe the hardest thing to do. When you do, you will find the vessel that we
are that the holy spirit dwells in will have no problem forgiving and loving
others. For true love doe not demand its own way. It is a choice we make. And
since God is no respecter of persons, titles, salaries, family or political
connections don’t matter, and he isn’t influenced by how many points per game
you score or home runs hit. So we all have the same offer....what are you doing
with Jesus’ offer of love and forgiveness? Do you have your own code of laws
you live by keeping you from being saved?
Today you may be confronted by a chance to forgive, or to show love. Don’t
miss out a chance to let Jesus shine through you. You don’t have to carry
around two heavy tablets, because he has written his law of love on your heart,
so it and he are always with you. Yet many will resist, thinking their way is
better, only to still need forgiveness. So try today to treat others in a way
so they don’t have to forgive you. Again it is called love....
But just in case, he does like to hear from you. Unlike a boss I once had
who was less than patient with the questions I asked him. He finally blurted
out one day “no more questions!” Which led to my answer “why?” Pushing him
over the edge. Maybe if he had sung along with the Mickey Mouse Club he would
have had a clue, “why? Because we love you.” If Mickey, Donald, Chip and Dale,
and the Seven Dwarfs can figure it out, why can’t you? Remember that the next
time you refer to someone or something as being Mickey Mouse. That was one
smart mouse. I wonder, was Jesus thinking of him when he said “he who has an
ear let him hear?”
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com