Inescapable Laws
By Peter Crause
Ezekiel
When
we encounter the word “Law” we
immediately think of rules and regulations; things demanded of us that carry a
penalty if not adhered to. If we are children of God, we think of all the
demands and rituals of the Old Testament; the “rules and regulations” that were
delivered to the nation of
However,
there is a wider meaning to the word “Law”.
The following definition of law was obtained from the internet:
The term law is often used to refer to universal principles that
describe the fundamental nature of something, to universal properties and
relationships between things, or to descriptions that purport to explain these
principles and relationships.
Thus
we can speak of the “Law of Gravity”; the “Law of Thermodynamics”; the “Law of
Aerodynamics” et al. Principles that are peculiar to the world we live in;
“Laws” set in motion by our creator; laws that always operate 24/7 – unchanging laws; laws that give
stability to the universe.
As in
the natural, so in the spiritual; there are laws governing and influencing man
in this realm as well. One such law or principle is mentioned in our scripture
reference – to encapsulate it in “legalese”; it can be called “The Law of Sin and Death”. We must not
understand it as if God is standing watching with a “big stick”, ready to beat
us up when we sin, but rather as an inherent principle in God’s creation.
One
major error in our thinking so often is that “sin is undesirable” – which is a
fallacy. If sin was undesirable, it wouldn’t be so “popular” – would it? If it
wasn’t “enjoyable”, wouldn’t we quit
doing it? The sad fact is; we sin, enjoy it and then have remorse for it.
Temptation is real and powerful. We all have “sins that so easily beset us”;
things we do that bring “death” to our joy and peace; things that “kill” our
communion with God; things that make us “hide” from each other and our Lord.
The
Apostle Paul discovered this same truth – although he desired to do the right
thing, he often found another principle in operation in his life – yes, he too
experienced the “Law of Sin and Death”
– his cry may be yours; “Who shall
deliver me?” He calls it “the body of this death” – a picture of carrying a
dead, rotting corpse on his back; something like the drug-addicts “Monkey on my
back” – a burdensome load that we wish wasn’t there.
For
the unbeliever, there is no solution
to his problem. Prison, institutions of reform, “harm reduction sites” and all
the “anonymous” programs that attempt to alleviate the problem can never bring
true and lasting deliverance. The desires never can be removed; failure is
frequent – others have some success by pure “will-power”; but suffer anguish of
mind and incessant temptation. There is only
one source of true deliverance available; it is to be found in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Some
of these thoughts are not original here, but bear repeating for their truth
value. The Law of Gravity can be
overcome by a higher law; the Law of
Aerodynamics. As long as the higher
law operates, the other has no influence – until the higher law ceases
to operate. If the aircraft flying high in the clouds suddenly lost the Law of Aerodynamics it would plunge to
the earth with tragic consequences. The lower law of gravity will come to bear
and do its damaging work.
For
the believer, there is a higher law
that overcomes the law of sin and death;
Rom 8:2 for the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ
Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
In
Christ alone is “sinless perfection” possible. It certainly doesn’t make the
“saint” somebody special, but indicates the Lord is able to save His people from their sins and not in their sins. God has provided the
means to rise above the downward pull of “gravity”
to soar in the skies of freedom and deliverance from all sin and corruption.
The
natural and spiritual laws of creation are inescapable; but can be overcome by
higher laws available to all. Rise up above the “downward pull”; temptations
will still come and go; but the higher
laws will overcome them; giving victory day by day; minute by minute; second by
second – you will wonder how it was possible to have failed in the past.
This is all accomplished as we yield to the Holy Spirit that indwells every single child of God!
Child
of God, don’t despair today – if you fail, spread your “wings” and fly again.
If you are flying, be aware that the other
law is still there; stop “flying” and you’ll fall.
Micah 7:8 Rejoice
not against me, O my enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be a light unto
me.