Getting Out of Bed in the Morning

"Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."' -Matthew 22:37-40

Almost anyone who has grown up "religious," whether they be Mormon, Muslim, or Christian, has been indoctrinated with a set of rules. Some of these rules may be stated openly, such as a prohibition against alcohol, while others may be more subtle, such as not fraternizing with those who hold different beliefs.

Whatever the rules may be, they are without exception oppressive. They are also usually the framework within which someone defines themselves as a believer in their religion. We would assume that someone who prays toward the east on a set schedule is either a Muslim or a Jew. In the same way, the believer who does the praying is self-defined by their actions. A Mormon would feel unorthodox for failing to venerate Joseph Smith; an Atheist must remain true to form and dogmatically state that the universe evolved by chance, no matter what intricate pattern they may see in nature; and a Christian should be at a church service every Sunday, even if they sleep through the service. Whether motivated by guilt or self-righteousness, rigidly following the rules is deemed "good enough."

As a young follower of Christ, I was overwhelmed by the choices in life. How could I possibly know what rule to follow in each and every situation? Would there not be times when one rule would conflict with another? How could I possibly know if it was right or not to simply get out of bed in the morning? After all, I may fall into sin as soon as my feet touched the floor, and there was no law to dictate if it was right to take that risk or not. The "Big Ten" commandments were a start, but where should I stop? I am sure I was far from alone in this struggle.

I thank my Lord that He has provided the answer to this question, and that he opened my eyes to it. Our actions, whatever they may be, must be motivated by love... Love for God first of all and love for the people we come into contact with secondly. There are times when two identical actions may be praiseworthy or sinful, simply based on their motivation. It may be love for God and others that motivates us to give a large amount of money to a charity. This would be an action in accord with the the two overarching commandments and therefore with all others. However, it would be a sin to give with the motivation of puffing up ego and self-righteousness, even if the giving is done anonymously.

When you get out of bed in the morning, ask yourself why you are getting out of bed. Evaluate all of your actions, no matter how small. Are you oppressed by rules, or freed by love? Find out what drives you. Be driven by love and you need never fear going astray.

Creator of the Destroyer

"See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc. No weapon forged against you will prevail..."
-Isaiah 54:16-17a

I have heard the second part of this section quoted in sermons and religious songs for years, but only tonight, by mere chance, did the first verse strike me. When read together, as above, it is hard to imagine how this should have happened, as the first part seems so integral to the second. The Lamb who was pierced is also the very Creator of the blacksmith who forged the spearhead which was plunged into His side! He states in no uncertain terms that He has "created the destroyer."

The double meaning here is both so subtle and yet it falls like a hammer-blow. The heavenly blacksmith forms His own weapons. Nothing so mean as steel is beaten on His anvil, but he forges flesh and blood, mind and spirit to form "a weapon fit for its work." What a fearful picture is a master blacksmith, fiery-eyed, sinewy shoulders bulging, his hammer ringing as sparks fly, forging the weapons of destruction! How much more fearful is the God who created the stars in this role! Who could stand before His weapons?

And yet we are given hope. Although no human could stand before these destroyers, especially designed to work havoc, the One who made them is also the One who promises "No weapon forged against you will prevail..."

Take comfort when the wars of this world seem overwhelming. When the mind-blowing power of the weapons of earth shakes you, remember that the One who has called you "friend" is the Creator of all.

Our Only Comfort

"Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?" -Job 38:2

"Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?" -Job 40:8

One of the most common arguments I have heard for both the non-existence of God and for His lack of sovereign control over events is the evils that happen in the world. Young lives are tragically ended, wars and disease rage over the earth, and wicked men prosper.

Last night Sarah and I watched the conclusion of the movie version of Leo Tolstoy's great work "War and Peace." Toward the end Pierre is speaking with his friend Natasha. She has suffered the loss of family fortune, and the loss of both her younger brother and her beloved fiance. War has ravaged their lands. Pierre has returned from being unjustly imprisoned, nearly executed, and marched through the freezing wilderness, watching his fellow prisoners dying all around him. And yet Pierre has found an inner peace beyond any he had known before. Through all of this, he makes the statement (paraphrase) "God is in control of all these things."

"But why[do they happen]?" returns Natasha, to which Pierre gives the answer, "I do not know, but I do know that if it were not so [that God were in control], life would be unbearable."

Job suffered even greater and real loss. Every material possession, his family, and even his health deserted him. In the depths of despair he asks God why, but he never gets a direct answer to his question. Instead he is made to understand the majesty and power of God, and in the end he has faith, and is comforted.

When we don't understand we question God. Our pride pits our intellect against His, imagining that we have a right to an explanation that we could never understand. When we suffer and see evil, we want answers, but what we really need is faith that God is in control, which will bring comfort beyond any explanation.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:9